Safe Driving
Statistics:
In 2023 40,990 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in the United States. In 2022, distracted driving claimed 3,308 lives, roughly 9% of all fatalities (NHTSA, 2022).
Locally, in 2023, 615 people were admitted to Upstate University Hospital for injuries sustained from a motor vehicle or motorcycle crash. 39% of patients admitted to Upstate Trauma were patients between the ages of 15 and 34.
Help us stop the #1 killer of teens in America! 75% of teen fatalities do not involve alcohol or drugs. 50% are passengers driven by a teen driver. Distractions such as cell phone use, multiple occupants and drowsiness continue to affect people on the road every day (Impact Teens, 2024).
Get the facts, get involved, and help us keep America’s roads and our teens safe!
Let's Not Meet by Accident
Car crashes are a leading cause of death for teens.
Many crashes are due to distracted, impaired, or reckless driving. Let’s Not Meet by Accident (LNMBA) has been a part of Injury Prevention Efforts at the Trauma Center for over 20 years.
The program is based on the ‘Impact Teens’ evidenced-based program to empower young people to make meaningful behavioral changes in their own driving habits as well as promote safe driving within their community.
We offer two pathways for LNMBA
- Indoor Only:
- Participants simulate a real-life mock crash by sitting in chairs in front of a group of individuals. Can be completed in a large classroom, library, gymnasium, community center, or auditorium
- Indoor/Outdoor Full Scale:
- This pathway requires at least 3 months of previous planning with a school district or organization. Students identify driving distractors, then conduct a simulated crash scenario of a mass casualty incident. The students are then triage tagged, and the consequences explained.
- Collaboration between the district, local fire, ems, police, and ambulance are required.
- 6 mock crashes are conducted from March 1st- June 30th
- Application period opens in October
- Spots fill fast so contact us today!
- 3 are conducted from July 1st through October 15th
- This pathway requires at least 3 months of previous planning with a school district or organization. Students identify driving distractors, then conduct a simulated crash scenario of a mass casualty incident. The students are then triage tagged, and the consequences explained.
One student said: "Well coordinated and definitely scared me. It made me and my friends tell our driver to get off her phone to not even look for directions while driving. Instead, we read the directions off for her.”
Please email Upstate’s Trauma Injury Prevention Coordinator Anthony Scalise to request a course or for additional information visit Impact Teen Drivers.