FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 12, 2008
Contact: Sue Finkam, 317-453-7322

JUDGE FELIX ANNOUNCES PROGRAM

TO PREVENT YOUTH DRIVING ACCIDENTS

Carmel, Ind. - Carmel City Court Judge Paul Felix announced today a new program designed to educate young drivers about the dangers of being behind the wheel. The program, entitled Youth Drive Aware!, is set to be a monthly discussion group between young drivers, their parents, and other community members who have witnessed the often devastating effects of automobile accidents.

Youth Drive Aware! was born out of a need to emphasize to young drivers the great responsibility each of them bears every time one of them gets behind the wheel. Felix discusses this issue with young drivers in his court, and uses referrals to driver improvement courses as a method to reduce accidents, but recognized a need to provide more targeted information to Hamilton County youth. “It is my hope, that by attending these sessions, kids will understand the consequences of their driving decisions. Choosing to speed through an intersection to run a light could have a horrible and immediate impact on their lives, their parents’ lives, and the lives of other passengers and drivers in our community,” Felix said.

Felix realizes that statistics do not truly reveal the magnitude of dangerous driving to young drivers. To ensure the Youth Drive Aware! program is effective, Felix has secured trauma physicians, accident investigators, police officers, and victims of youth driving accidents willing to participate in this monthly program. Young drivers should especially related to Brandon Robinson, an inmate in the Hamilton County Jail, who will discuss the effect on his life and others’ as a result of the choices he made as the driver of a car responsible for an accident in which multiple people lost their lives.

Carmel Police Chief Fogarty said "I am most supportive of Judge Felix's new program, in that these young people will be exposed to the real-life consequences of poor driving judgment. Young drivers need to understand the serious and sometimes tragic results of inappropriate driving behavior. This program will help make the roads safer for all of us."

The first presentation will occur on Wednesday, April 2, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. in the Carmel City Court. Dr. Thomas Hayward, a trauma physician at Wishard Hospital , a Carmel police officer, and Brandon Robinson will be the first to lead this discussion group. The session is open to the public. RSVPs are not required, but space will be reserved for youths ordered to attend the session by the Court.

Facts to Know

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 15- to 20-year-olds (based on 2004 figures, which are the latest mortality data currently available from the National Center for Health Statistics).

In 2006, 12.9 percent (7,463) of all the drivers involved in fatal crashes (57,695) were young drivers age 15 to 20 years old, and 16 percent (1,621,000) of all drivers involved in police-reported crashes (10,558,000) were young drivers.

Source: Traffic Safety Facts 2006 Data, Young Drivers,

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/810817.pdf, which also includes a Table on Fatalities in Crashes Involving Young Drivers (Ages 15-20) by State and Fatality Type, 2006.