GetEmTagged.com Seeks Minnesota Legislation Restricting Teen Driving
"When it comes to reducing teen driving risks, the U.S. is late coming to the game," said Roderic Strozier, co-founder of Get 'Em Tagged (www.GetEmTagged.com), an educational and advocacy group working to reduce the country's alarming number of teenage driving fatalities. That's why Strozier, his wife Tracey, and Get 'Em Tagged student advisors will storm Minnesota's capitol the second week in March, urging lawmakers to introduce legislation mandating that vehicles teens drive display placards in both the front and back. "Learner plates - or 'L-Plates' - are required in England, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, South Africa, Hong Kong and many other countries," noted Strozier. "When you tag teen vehicles, adult drivers are more courteous and cautious, and proactively share the road with teen drivers - dramatically reducing crashes, injuries, and fatalities."
Lakeville, MN (PRWEB) February 28, 2007 -- "When it comes to reducing teen driving risks, the U.S. is late coming to the game," said Roderic Strozier, co-founder of Get 'Em Tagged (www.GetEmTagged.com), an educational and advocacy group working to reduce the country's alarming number of teenage driving fatalities. That's why Strozier, his wife Tracey, and Get 'Em Tagged student advisors will storm Minnesota's capitol the second week in March, urging lawmakers to introduce legislation mandating that vehicles teens drive display placards in both the front and back. "Learner plates - or 'L-Plates' - are required in England, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, South Africa, Hong Kong and many other countries," noted Strozier. "When you tag teen vehicles, adult drivers are more courteous and cautious, and proactively share the road with teen drivers - dramatically reducing crashes, injuries, and fatalities."
The numbers are stark. Teen drivers between 16 and 19 years old have a fatality rate four times the rate of drivers age 25-69. Sixteen-year-old drivers have a crash rate three times that of 17-year-olds, five times that of 18-year-olds, and two times that of 85-year-olds. Over 5,000 teens die in driving accidents each year, and teen drivers are involved in crashes that cause over a half million injuries annually.
Get 'Em Tagged's push for Minnesota legislation follows on the heels of actions other states have taken to reduce teen driving distractions. Pending Virginia legislation would prohibit drivers under 18 from using cell phones or other wireless devices while behind the wheel. Lawmakers in Arizona are considering restrictions on the number of passengers accompanying a teen driver, as well as the hours a teen can drive. And even though Washington's 2001 law has caused teen driving fatalities to drop by 50 percent, state legislators are pushing for stronger restrictions. According to Strozier, "I've noticed numerous state laws named after a teen who lost his or her life in an accident. But I don't want a law named after my son or daughter. I want a law that will help decrease their risk of dying in an accident in the first place."
While Strozier applauds any effort to reduce teen driving fatalities, he feels strongly that tagging vehicles is the key to long-term effectiveness. "Teen drivers simply don't have the experience to always correctly judge and respond to driving challenges. The tag alerts adult drivers to the fact that there is a teenager in their midst, and allows them to adjust their driving styles accordingly," he said.
To that end, Get 'Em Tagged has developed a $22 magnetic bumper tag that reads, "Teen Driver: Share the Road. Save a Life." Through the work of student advisors, the concept is catching on: Get 'Em Tagged has sold over 3,000 tags since its January 8, 2007 launch.
But the organization does more than sell bumper tags. The Stroziers have stepped back into the role of senior advisors, giving teenagers the opportunity to step up and spread the word about reducing teen driving fatalities. "They've taken the initiative to talk to their peers and student groups, as well as to reach out to parents who have lost teenagers to car crashes," he said. "The have also organized five high school fundraisers, helping to fund driver education and training programs."
In the process, the teens earn rewards. "In essence, we are trading their influence for scholarships," said Strozier. "They earn points for working on Get 'Em Tagged projects that translate to scholarship dollars. The teens say that these stipends are better than the pay the receive for their after school jobs."
According to Strozier, the bottom line is that there are 22 million drivers between the ages of 16 and 19. "I know we won't reach all of them," he said. "But each one of these lives is valuable and deserves to be protected. Right now, we are not giving our best. We are burying teen drivers. Minnesota is only the beginning. We will be seeking this legislation in every one of our 50 states."
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