Lyman Hall High School does the "Harlem Shake"

The push4safedriving initiative released a new video on YouTube featuring the SADD chapter at Lyman Hall High School in Wallingford doing the Harlem Shake and delivering a dangers of texting message at the same time.

View it and pass it on!

National Teen Safe Driving Week – Oct. 14-20

WETHERSFIELD – The results of two national studies on teen safe driving show that Connecticut is among the most advanced states whose laws help to prevent crashes injuries and deaths. This information comes as the state marks National Teen Safe Driving week Oct. 14 - 20.

Connecticut's year-long restrictions on driving with friends in a car are among the toughest in the country and are credited with helping save lives. The state has seen a 91-percent reduction in teen driver deaths in the last decade.  Studies released last week by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and the Governors Highway Safety Association showed in general that deaths involving 16- and 17-year-old drivers had nationally increased 11 percent over the previous year and that the risk of a fatal crash increased as the number of teenage passengers increased.

"These new studies highlight Connecticut’s leadership in protecting teen drivers and improving overall road safety,” said Governor Dannel P. Malloy. “Without a doubt, these driving laws help us reduce crashes and save lives, but teens and their parents are critical partners in the effort to develop safe driving habits and be responsible behind the wheel.”

“Laws alone are not enough,” said Attorney General George Jepsen, the father of two teenage sons. “Teens need to help their friends stay safe behind the wheel by encouraging them to obey the rules and by minimizing the distractions that increase the risk of a serious crash. Don’t call them or text them while they are driving. Nothing you can tell them is worth risking their life.”

Attorney General Jepsen was a spokesman for state attorneys general in a national public service campaign this year to discourage young adults from texting and driving.

"These laws and everyone's efforts -- teens, parents, safety advocates and communities across the state -- are paying off in our progress, yet this is an issue that needs constant reminders like this dedicated week to teen driving safety," said Commissioner Melody A. Currey of the Department of Motor Vehicles.

The Attorney General, DMV, the Connecticut State Police, the Governor's Highway Safety Office, the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, AAA and Travelers Companies met with students at Mercy High School in Middletown Monday to talk about teen driving safety issues. Students from the DMV Commissioner's Advisory Committee on Teen Safe Driving also delivered safety messages to their peers. They are: Luke Edwards, senior, Daniel Hand High School, Madison; Juhi Gupta, senior, Mercy High School, Middletown;  and Daniyal N. Khan,  graduated senior 2012, Berlin High School.

As Connecticut enters its fifth year following the passage in 2008 of strong teen driving laws, a recent Connecticut analysis shows parents of teen drivers have a keen awareness of the safety measures and state's laws.  Support for the laws remains high with over 85 percent of parents saying they are effective in reducing crashes, injuries and deaths. However, it also showed the need for more parental outreach to increase parents’ knowledge of specific laws and safety risks.

A series of high-profile crashes in 2007 triggered an intensive nine-month public awareness and law-changing campaign in 2008. A task force to recommend changes to teen driving laws was formed. Safety advocates including those from the state and federal government, education, law enforcement, public health, medicine, parents and others examined the issue and proposed solutions.

Their proposals brought revamped laws requiring longer periods of passenger restrictions for teen drivers, an earlier 11 p.m. curfew time for these drivers to be off the road except for certain situations, harsher penalties through increased fines and license suspensions for violators of the laws, rigorous training requirements for study and on-the-road practice, and a mandated parent-teen information session about safe driving and teen development. The new laws went into effect on August 1, 2008.

Some designate a 'texter'

The Washington Post reported that some teens, who have grown up with the idea of a designated driver, are designating a texter.  Drivers under 25 are more likely to text than other drivers, and 1/3 admit to texting while driving.  Texting is banned for novice drivers in 31 States including Connecticut.  So, if you feel like you have to text, designate a texter and drive safely with your eyes, brain, and hands concentrating on driving and the road ahead.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/designated-texter-enters-the-automobile/2012/08/28/de237ff8-f115-11e1-adc6-87dfa8eff430_story.html

New DMV Center for Teen Drivers

WETHERSFIELD  -  An overwhelming majority – 98 percent – of parents say they were “very satisfied” after using DMV’s new scheduling system for a Cheshire test center where teens can obtain a learner’s permit.

The survey was completed by people using the new center during its first week of operation. It also gave very high marks for customer service, ease of finding the center and overall satisfaction with the center.

The new learner’s permit test center opened one week ago as a pilot program to improve efficiency and customer service while also providing an alternative to waiting in line at a DMV branch office.

“We think these early comments are just great news. Our goal is to increase customer satisfaction and make it easier to use DMV services. Clearly we are heading in the right direction,” said DMV Commissioner Melody A. Currey.

As part of a multi-million effort at the DMV to better integrate technology, achieve taxpayer savings, and make government more responsive, 16- or 17-year-olds statewide or their parents can now schedule an appointment online at ct.gov/dmv/do-it-online for taking the learner's permit test in Cheshire. This will save parents and teens possibly long waits in DMV branch offices. The new center also offers flexible hours to better meet family demands.

It is located right off of Route 691, at 1625 Highland Avenue and accepts appointments on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fridays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The short six-question survey was completed by 160 of the 188  parents whose teens completed their tests and received their permits.

-- Will you recommend the DMV Test Center to others? Yes - 98.8%
-- How do you feel about customer service at the DMV Test Center? - Very Satisfied - 98.1%
-- Please rate your overall satisfaction with using the DMV Test Center. Very Satisfied - 97.5%
-- How satisfied are you with how long you spent at the DMV Test Center?  Very Satisfied - 96.3%
-- How easily did you find the DMV Test Center? Very easy to locate - 85.6%
-- How would you improve the DMV Testing Center? A sampling of the 160 customer responses:


·         Not a thing - this was an incredible experience! Can't wait to send all of my daughter's friends here!

·         You've already made great improvements over my past experiences.

·         It was good

·         No need to improve it

·         no improvement suggestions for this office. excellent experience, and the employees were all smiling at us! thank you for making this easy.

·         No improvement is great. The staff are great and very friendly

·         Excellent experience nothing to improve

·         I love the way this new system works. It is way easier than when I got my license.

·         This is the "Best of DMV." Every interaction should be this smooth and efficient!

·         I don't have any improvement suggestions, this was the best DMV experience I've ever rec'd

·         It's good the way it is

·         Already wonderful!!!  Thank you!

·         This idea was awesome! Whoever came up with it should get an award. Totally positive experience, unlike regular DMV office. The employees were ALL very friendly & helpful. Everything was done quickly and ON TIME! no lines, no waiting, Totally awesome! Keep up the good work!