Working Together to Save Our Youth

Young drivers continue to be at the highest risk of being involved in a motor vehicle collision. Too many young lives are being destroyed or dramatically altered by the injuries they receive in these collisions. So far this year 24 young people have died in automobile crashes on Vancouver Island . In 2002 there were 82 people between the ages of 13 and 21 killed and 11,940 youths injured in motor vehicle crashes in B.C. These deaths and injuries were the result of 9,628 motor vehicle crashes involving youth that occurred the same year. That is an increase from 2001. B.C.'s Children's Commissioner says that motor vehicle collisions kill more young people in British Columbia than the next four causes of death combined. Many people are working to change that in 2004 and beyond.

The Provincial Government recently made changes to the graduated licensing program. The Solicitor General said the changes were designed to maximize potential road safety benefits while minimizing the potential economic and lifestyle impacts on new drivers. While many young drivers are protesting the changes most traffic safety advocates including RRID are hopeful the changes will be effective and reduce the number of deaths and injuries.

Nanaimo is the home of the DRIVE Program (Demonstrating Responsibility in Vehicle Education) which is reaching new drivers going through the Graduated Licensing Program. All the driving schools in the mid-island region are partners along with RRID and ICBC. The program has been so successful it will soon be running in Campbell River and Courtenay. Nanaimo is also the Island home of the PARTY Program (Prevent Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma in Youth) which is a program run by Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and funded by the Autoplan Brokers of B.C. Physicians, nurses and staff are involved in this program along with many community partners. This program will also be spreading out across the Island in the New Year.

Local businesses like Coastal Community Insurance Agencies are sponsoring contests that promote traffic safety. Thrifty Foods is joining with ICBC and the Autoplan Brokers and all the Secondary Schools in District 68, John Barsby, Cedar, Dover Bay , NDSS, Wellington and Woodlands in a youth initiative road safety program.

Every one of these programs is aimed at teenage drivers. Many people are involved in trying to save their lives. But it will take many more.

Impaired Driving, speeding, inexperience, risk-taking are all issues that affect our youth but they are only the results of much broader social issues. Movies, television and even music portray fast and dangerous driving as exciting and adventurous. Advertising sells the sleekest, fastest most powerful cars as the most desirable. Not every young driver attends an accredited driving school some get on the road with only a minimum of instruction. Some parents allow their children to drive cars they have neither the skill nor the experience to handle. Many adults model inappropriate driving behaviors. There is no simple answer to this complex problem.

They say it takes a village to raise a child, I believe it will take the whole community to save our youth. This is not a situation that can be solved by the Government, the Courts, the Police, ICBC, the Autoplan Brokers or RRID. It is a community problem and it will take the participation and involvement of the whole community to solve it. Each parent must recognize their role and their responsibilities in keeping young drivers safe. Each experienced driver must recognize their role as a role model for new young drivers. Everyone in the community must agree that it is unacceptable that over 12,000 young people were killed or injured in motor vehicle crashes in one year. Every one in the community must commit that we will have a different result in 2004. For only by working together can we truly make a difference.

Joan Parsons
President
Rid Road of Impaired Drivers

RRID'S HONOUR ROLL FOR 2003

Recognizing those who have given their time, energy and commitment to reducing the number of motor vehicle collisions involving youth.

Fred Adkins

All-Class Driver Training

Arrowsmith 2000

The Autoplan Brokers of B.C.

Constable Beth Blackburn

Tony Carruthers

Cedar Community School

The City of Nanaimo

Coastal Community Credit Union

Cowichan School of Motoring

The Drive Program

Dover Bay Secondary School

Dr. Drew Digney

Jon Graham

Ziggy Hildebrandt

I.C.B.C.

John Barsby Secondary School

Liz Gilmour

Kate Harris

Marcie Hutton

Jamie Lauriente

Graham McEwen

Nanaimo District Secondary School

Nanaimo Regional General Hospital

Anya Nimmon

Sue Nordli

Oceanside Driving School

The Party Program

The R.C.M.P.

Steve Rokyard

Tom Rose

Safe ‘n Sure Driving Center

Constable Tim Schewe

Donna Stennes

Kayla Stennes

Jana Stensland

Thrifty Foods

Serge Tropia

Rick Treby

Dr. Roger Walmsley

Wellington Secondary School

Woodlands Secondary School

Young Drivers of Canada

Ziggy's Driving Academy

You're invited

RRID will be holding our Annual General Meeting

At 7pm on Monday, January 26

At John Barsby Community School

550 -7 th Street , Nanaimo

Everyone is welcome.

Our special guest speaker will be

Donna Stennes from the DRIVE Program

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