NCJ Number
170782
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 66 Issue: 12 Dated: (December 1997) Pages: 6-7
Date Published
1997
Length
2 pages
Annotation
The Chief Operator Teen Driver Program established by the police department of Albany, Calif., is designed to reduce traffic crashes among teenagers by enhancing adolescents' ability to promote their own safety messages in the style of their choice.
Abstract
The California Office of Traffic Safety funded the program with a 3-year grant. The program uses a music trio of police officers to appeal to adolescents. One officer dresses and performs as an Elvis character. Students who become Child Operators pledge at a school assembly to ensure that all teenagers use seat belts, to drive a carload of teenagers safely, to obey all traffic laws, and never to drink and drive. The assembly includes a performance by the musical trio, questions from a police officer to randomly selected members of the audience, and student skits and traffic safety songs. Tangible incentives to participate include cash awards and personalized trading cards for winners in the song and skit competitions, coupons and tickets for students who answer the traffic safety questions correctly, other prizes, and a coupon from a local fast-food restaurant for each student who attends the assembly. Traffic accidents involving alcohol-impaired teenage drivers declined by 18.9 percent during the grant period. The program has spread to other states. Photograph and reference notes