On April 28th, a national event which emphasizes the importance of properly disposing of unused & expired over the counter & prescription drugs will take place. An emerging trend is that of teenagers attaining their drugs my rummaging through their grandparents’ medicine closets. This leads to harmful mix of alcohol with high doses or prescription drugs, which may lead to alcohol poisoning, multiple injuries, or even a fatality. The DEA has partnered with NCADD and local Police Departments in order to promote the importance of safely discarding all unwanted drugs.
At the age of 16, most teenagers feel as if they’re invincible and it’s a difficult to relay the concept that taking drugs which were not specifically prescribed for them, or taking a higher dose of an over the counter medication, can be fatal, especially if paired with driving. Teens know that drinking and driving is dangerous, but do they know much about drugged driving?????? I don’t think so….. Check this website for more information about the dangers of taking drugs and driving http://www.stopdruggeddriving.org/.
Another extreme but unfortunate effect of taking these drugs is an addiction. For example, pain medications are very easily to get a hold of; more unfortunate is that it is even easier to become addicted to them.
Through this national event, teenagers around the country can be saved from possible harmful altercations in the future. Another emphasis of this event is to express concern for our environment. A home owner’s immediate thought is to flush expired medication down the toilet, which not only contaminates the water, but also leads to multiple problems with animals residing in the sea. This is a great cause which has shown extensive results in the past. Please take the time to dispose of your unused and/or expired medications at a medication drop-off location near you. Please visit http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html for more information and a drop-off location near you!
If you were standing in line at the supermarket, and the person in front of you didn’t notice the line moved forward, you probably wouldn’t give him the finger and start yelling obscenities. You might say something like, “Excuse me.” Most full-grown adults have been taught how to handle problems without swearing and spitting. So if we don’t handle supermarket drama with four-letter words and threats of death, why do we handle road drama this way?
Whether we’ve been the one receiving it, or the one dishing it out, we’ve all experienced road rage. There’s no arguing that car horns are important. They alert other drivers of danger: “Stop! You’re backing up into my car!” “Careful, you’re coming into my lane!” Horns can stop some very bad accidents before they happen. Unfortunately, they’re used just as often to express our annoyance. “You just cut me off, you idiot!” “Green means go, mister!” Is it necessary, in these situations, to lean on the car horn for 3, 5, 10 seconds? Is there a benefit to cursing your fellow Turnpiker and then insulting his mother? Bad manners only escalate anger, and often result in retaliation and more aggression.
It’s pretty clear why road drama turns good people into meanies. 1. Roads are dangerous, so the consequences of making a mistake are serious and make people upset. 2. Unlike on a supermarket line, you and the guy you’re yelling at are separated by glass, metal, and asphalt. Why not take out all your frustrations from work, school, home, and relationships on this driver in front of you? The anonymity provided by a car makes it easy to behave in ways you normally wouldn’t, when face-to-face.
Next time you’re ready to call someone a name you wouldn’t want your grandmother to hear, try and realize that it’s not really you talking, but an engrained culture of bad roadside manner. Then realize that you’re better than that.
After years of improving crash statistics, 2011 saw an increase in the number of people killed on New Jersey’s roadways. According to State Police, seatbelt usage and distracted driving are two factors which contribute to crashes and fatalities on our roadways. Pedestrian fatalities continue to be an issue in New Jersey. Certain areas across the state have higher rates for fatalities. Read more and check out how safe your community is. Click here
Summertime and the end-of-year holidays are when most Americans gather to enjoy their free time with friends and family. They are also some of the most deadly times on American roads due to impaired driving. That’s why during the summer and the end of the year, a nationwide campaign comprised of thousands of traffic safety partners, join together to protect citizens from this deadly crime.
Here in New Jersey, the Division of Highway Traffic Safety utilizes the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign to achieve its goal: prevention.
The Goal is Prevention
The key to deterring impaired driving is highly visible enforcement. The research is clear on the affect highly visible enforcement has on deterring impaired driving. Prevention and not arrest is the goal of the campaign. Drivers must perceive that the risk of being caught is too high before their behavior will change. Use the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over message to convince audiences that the chance of being caught is too high to risk. This message works and has influenced many citizens nationwide not to drink and drive.
This is your opportunity to get involved in your school and community to make a difference. We are seeking high school students throughout New Jersey to develop teen driving safety programs and compete against others schools for a grand prize…a driving simulator for your school. Participating schools will each receive a $1,000 stipend to help implement the project and have the opportunity to win cool prizes…while maybe saving somebody’s life!
Application deadline is November 30th—don’t miss out!
> Check out the application at www.UGotBrains.com <
Last year, 19 high school competed against each other and developed amazing projects about driving issues that affect teens. Driving Simulators were awarded to two high schools-Holmdel High School (Monmouth County) and Lenape Regional High School District (Burlington County), but all schools walked away with prizes.
> Check out last year’s projects at www.UGotBrains.com <
More people traveling and more parties to attend means more risk for making unsafe decisions. Don’t let your teens become a statistic over the holiday!
In 2009, more than 3,000 youth died as a result of a motor vehicle crash and 350,000 were injured.
(Source: NHTSA)
Parents, what are your teens doing for the Fourth of July?
Be sure to:
- Educate your teens about the safety of using seat belts
- Re-enforce GDL Laws
- Monitor your teens behavior and ask questions
- Encourage your teens to have a voice when they feel they are in unsafe situations
Know the Graduated driver licesning laws (GDL’s):
Know the laws and reinforce them with your teens that following the laws could save their lives.
Seat belt facts:
Check out statistics and information.
Parent-teen Contracts:
Develop a positive relationship with your teen by talking about the drivnig rules and having them commit by signing a contract. The contracts will give you the opportunity set the standards and your teens will understand that driving is a privilege that should be earned.
Originally appeared on Under Your Influence.
How many times have you heard that before? The concept of your first time at the wheel is something so dangerous, so frightening, so nerve-wracking—that it’s beloved. How many teens don’t love the adrenaline rush of taking risks or the satisfaction in showing off to friends extreme unconcern and nonchalance in the face of danger? Besides, everyone drives—surely you alone can’t be all that terrible at it.
The problem is, everyone drives—but not everyone survives.
Equation time!
Desire to show off in front of friends + adrenaline rush + desire to overcome obstacles + desire to be seen as “cool” = forced nonchalance.
Forced nonchalance + trust in modern safety technology + knowledge that everyone drives = somewhat uneasy trust in your own driving capabilities.
That somewhat uneasy trust in your driving capabilities + a few successful rides = overconfidence.
And then, of course:
Overconfidence + under experience = K.O.
Well, perhaps you won’t actually die the first time you take your eyes of the road or click out a quick text. Perhaps you won’t even crash. Maybe not the first time, or the second time, or the third time… But then, you fall into the trap so many can’t see early enough nor stop themselves from falling into: overconfidence. If you’ve done it a few times, it really can’t be that risky, no?
It is. The more relaxed you get into bad habits, the more your chances of crashing—and possible fatalities—increase. Stay smart. Don’t drive stupid.
Turns out NJ drivers have another distraction to contend with while driving…bears!
The “Exit 8” Bear, a black bear that was spotted in a tree near the exit, had to be tranquilized and removed because drivers on the turnpike were distracted by the sight.
Distracted driving is trend that poses a growing danger. Nearly 5,500 people died in 2009 in crashes involving a distracted driver and almost 450,000 were injured. Drivers under the age of 20 make up the age group with the greatest proportion of distracted drivers. Do you want to help put an end to this type of behavior? Here’s your chance:
What is Distracted Driving?
There are three main types of distraction:
- Visual – taking your eyes off the road
- Manual – taking your hands off the wheel
- Cognitive – taking your mind off what you’re doing
Add bear gazing to the following list of driving distractions to avoid:
- Tuning a radio, CD player or ipod
- Applying makeup or personal grooming
- Reading
- Tending to children or pets
- Eating and drinking
- Programming a GPS
- Using a cell phone
Your primary responsibility as a driver is to operate your vehicle safely! Common sense and personal responsibility are a major part of the solution. It’s up to each and every person to make sure they “Put it Down” and pay attention to the road. The risks are simply too high!
As you’ll likely know by now, U Got Brains is holding a statewide competition between nineteen “champion” schools in New Jersey, with each school creating a campaign to promote safe driving. And funnily enough, teens in the schools are beginning to actually take notice.
For some, it’s just a question of asking another friend—“wait what’s up with all the sudden flyers?” and for others, it’s the gift of a free shirt or bracelet from a campaign organizer; but gradually, the students in the schools are starting to realize that this is a big deal— and it’s actually happening at their school.
Adults can come in and teach students about safe driving all they want. Some speeches are funny or witty, while others can be eloquent, touching, or powerful. But no matter how wonderful their speeches are, many students just don’t listen. Maybe they’ll listen for the period, maybe they’ll listen for a few days—but eventually, the majority will go back to the far easier methods of texting out quick replies, foregoing the annoying seat belt, and taking that illegal drink at parties.
However, imagine the concepts of driving in full control becoming the new trend. Of students hitting friends over the heads (not literally! …well, depending on how close the friend is) for driving idiotically, friends telling friends “I love you but I’d really rather not risk my life on your skills at looking at the road and at your phone at the same time”, upperclassmen creating precedents that the underclassmen won’t dare to break in the future—essentially, keeping smart in and stupid out.
We can do this, and the U Got Brains competition is one step towards this goal, this hope. If teenagers become the ones to spread the word and tell each other exactly how stupid stupid is, then they stand the chance of actually being heard and even listened to by peers. We as teens have adopted plenty of strange ideas in the past—so why not adopt a life-saving one, this time, instead?
> Find out what the UGotBrains Champion School Project is and see who is participating
And what’s so wrong about that, if you’re driving? You’re not holding the phone, after all…
If you’ve taken a Driver’s Ed class anytime in your life (within the past couple years that hands-free calling has actually been around, at least) you’d know by now something that a horrifying number of people don’t—hands-free phones are like a fraction of a percent less risky than hand-held to use while driving.
That makes no sense.
Yeah, that was the first thought that went through a lot of peoples’ brains when this revolutionary idea was first introduced. Why? Isn’t the big problem with cell phones that you have to take your hands off the wheel to use them, and look down at the screen to text?
Well, that’s some of the problem. It’s never good to drive with one hand, no matter how pro you may be at doing so on a bike. However, that’s not all of it. When you’re driving along and talking over the wire to someone, your attention strays from where it should be—the road—to the person that you’re talking to. And unlike the person sitting next to you, the person on the other end of the connection won’t know if you’re making a tricky turn or maneuvering through cars or anything. They won’t quiet down for you when you need to concentrate, and you can’t suddenly shut up at times to concentrate or you’ll risk offense.
Imagine the scenario like this: you’re playing video games (COD, Black Ops, Pokemon, whatever) and you’re all intent on your game, when someone decides to start talking to you from the side. You’re not taking your eyes or hands off the game—but your mind is, the moment you start talking, and then, unless you’re a real pro gamer—GAME OVER.
Except, real life isn’t a game. So, don’t treat it as one—the cold, harsh, reality, is, there is no “back” or “reset” button. So, treat the one life you have carefully—even more carefully than the last life you’re on two levels from beating a game after half a year’s worth of intense work.
