From the Director

 

Welcome to the Operation Teen Safe Driving website. We are excited to announce the beginning of the third year of our program which is making a difference in the lives of Illinois teens across the state.

 

We all know the major reasons teens are killed or seriously injured in traffic crashes: not wearing a safety belt, speed, distraction (cell phone, texting, passengers, etc.), impaired driving or lack of experience. Based on the past two years, we are excited by the creative programs that teens have developed to educate their peers with this important message.

And it works! It is evident, with a 40 percent reduction in teen deaths from 2007 to 2008, that this program works and is making the roadways safer for everyone. Lives saved spell success!

Our partners, the Ford Motor Company Fund, The Allstate Foundation, Governors Highway Association, Governor Pat Quinn, Secretary of State Jesse White, Illinois State Police, Illinois State Board of Education as well as the Illinois Department of Transportation's Division of Traffic Safety are anxiously awaiting this year's applications for the Operation Teen Safe Driving competition.

 

All public and private Illinois high schools are encouraged to participate. Selected high schools will receive seed money to combat the teen driving problem in Illinois.

For more information, or if you have questions concerning this exciting teen program, please
e-mail us at, teen.safety@Illinois.gov or visit us at www.TEENSAFEDRIVINGILLINOIS.org. Come join us and make a difference!

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Michael R. Stout
Director