A training session for instructors for First Impact was held recently at the Bootheel Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission (BRPC) office in Dexter. The training was conducted by Deana Tucker Dothage, director of First Impact and a faculty member of the University of Missouri School of Medicine. She addressed the BRPC at its regular meeting recently.
ThinkFirst Missouri, in partnership with the Missouri Department of Transportation, Traffic & Highway Safety Division, developed an evidence-based, facilitated traffic safety parent program called First Impact.
"First Impact provides the tools parents need to monitor, coach and support their new teen driver," said Dothage. "First Impact features video, discussion and engaging activities to promote the importance of parents and teens working together to reduce teen crashes, injuries and fatalities."
Dothage said First Impact, Preparing Drivers for the Road Ahead, is a 90-minute course which will be offered in schools in every county of the state. She was in Dexter Monday to train instructors for the course which is aimed at educating parents about Missouri's Graduated Drivers License (GDL) Law.
Statistics in 2014 show that one teen is killed every five days in the state, with 68 teems killed in traffic crashes in the state. Of that number, three in four were not wearing seat belts. Of the fatalities, 93 percent of the teens killed in traffic crashes were in vehicles driven by another teenager.
"The highest risk is age 16 during the first year of independent driving," Dothage said. "The leading causes of traffic crashes are inexperience, nighttime driving and driving with passengers."
Missouri's Graduated Driver License law requires that all first-time drivers between 15 and 18 years old complete a period of driving with a licensed driver (instruction permit), and restricted driving (intermediate license), before getting a full driver's license.
If the permit holder is under age 16, the licensed driver occupying the seat beside the permit holder for the purpose of giving instruction while driving must be a qualified person, grandparent, qualified driving instructor, a qualified driver at least 25 years of age who has been licensed for a minimum of 3 years and has received written permission from the parent or legal guardian, or in case of disability (of the parent, grandparent or guardian), their designee.
At age 16, the driver may apply for an intermediate license. The intermediate license allows the driver to drive alone except during a late night curfew (1 a.m. to 5 a.m.). The driver and passengers must use seat belts, be free of alcohol and drugs, and obey the traffic laws.
At age 18, or within the 30 days immediately preceding his/her 18th birthday, the intermediate license holder may apply for a full driver's license.
"Ensuring parents understand the risks and responsibilities associated with driving is essential in preventing teen driving tragedies," noted Dothage.
The statewide program will be offered free of charge. Sponsoring organizations are the Missouri Coalition of Roadway Safety, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), Arrive Alive, Think First Missouri and the University of Missouri.