Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee Announces ‘No Empty Chair’ Campaign To Educate Young Drivers On Safety

The Governor's Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) today announced the beginning of the “No Empty Chair” campaign to raise awareness among younger drivers to help prevent crashes and fatalities and make sure there are no empty chairs for prom and graduation season.  

Throughout this week – running from Monday, April 20 through Friday, April 24, 2025 – a series of statewide event will work to teach young drivers about the challenges and dangers they may face on the road. At the same time, law enforcement will also be increasing patrols to drive down dangerous and illegal driving behaviors.

“This is an important time of year for teens, with proms and graduations and warmer weather, which means more of our younger drivers will be on the roads,“ said Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner and Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee Chair Mark J.F. Schroeder.  “Unfortunately, too many of our younger drivers are injured or killed in motor vehicle crashes, whether due to their own inexperience or someone else’s mistake. That’s why we are launching this initiative to provide strong reminders of the risks of the road, and to make sure there are no empty chairs at celebrations of milestone events like prom and graduation.”  

Law enforcement will increase patrols near local high schools throughout the state, and officers will be vigilant in enforcing violations of the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) law. The GDL is intended to provide time for young drivers to gain critical experience in various traffic scenarios in a safe and controlled manner. Here are specific enforcement details for each day:  

• Monday, April 20 – Underage Drinking and Impaired Driving
• Tuesday, April 21 – Seatbelt and Child Restraints
• Wednesday, April 22 – Cell Phone Use and Texting
• Thursday, April 23 – Operation Safe Stop (school bus safety)
• Friday, April 24 – Speeding in School Zones

Steven G. James, New York State Police Superintendent, said, “Nearly every year communities across the state experience the death of a high school student just prior to graduation. During the “No Empty Chair” campaign, we will be focusing on the top contributors for serious crashes involving young drivers. The State Police will be persistent, along with our law enforcement partners, in diminishing threats to traffic safety among teens. We ask you to get the word out and talk with your friends and loved ones about being responsible behind the wheel during graduation season – and year-round.”

Juan Figueroa, Ulster County Sheriff and President of the NYS Sheriffs’ Association, said, “Schools should be safe areas for students, inside and out.  We can all do our part outside schools by driving safely and not speeding, wearing seat belts, putting the phones down, looking for red lights on school buses, and not driving impaired.  For our younger drivers, patience and good decisions will help make sure there are No Empty Chairs on graduation day.  The Sheriffs of New York State want everyone to be safe on the roads and enjoy their end of school celebrations.”

New York State Association of Chiefs of Police President and Mount Pleasant Police Department Chief Paul Oliva said, “The New York State Association of Chiefs of Police is dedicated to the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee’s No Empty Chair Campaign. Police officers across New York State will be participating in this program which focuses on educating young drivers on the hazards associated with careless and dangerous driving. This will be associated with a coordinated enforcement initiative to enhance safety for all users of our State, County, and local roadways. We will do our part to ensure all students make it to their graduation day.”  

Lauren Zimmerman-Meade, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) Director of Field Engagement said, “One decision can change everything. As prom and graduation season approaches, the No Empty Chair campaign reminds us that the choices we make, especially behind the wheel, have real and lasting impact. SADD is dedicated to empowering students to take responsibility for their own safety and that of those around them. Every student deserves to experience these milestone moments and the opportunities that follow. Your voice matters, your actions matter, and the way you look out for one another can save lives. By making thoughtful decisions and planning ahead, we can work together to ensure those seats remain filled for every celebration still to come.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor vehicle crashes continue to be a leading cause of death and serious injuries for youth between 16 and 20 years of age. In 2023, the last year with full data available, 2,148 young drivers died in traffic crashes, more than 100 deaths above the total for 2022. Teens only represent about 5 percent of licensed drivers, but they account for 8.5 percent of drivers involved in fatal crashes and 12.6 percent in all crashes. In addition, young male drivers are three times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than young female drivers.  

Throughout the state, GTSC will be enlisting the help of state and local law enforcement and school officials to help educate teens and enforce laws. As part of that effort, on Wednesday, April 22, GTSC will once again partner with NASCAR driver Ross Chastain for a “Battle of the Belts” event at Watkins Glen International that will bring in students from several high schools in that area to demonstrate and raise awareness among teens about the importance of wearing a seat belt in every seat, every trip, every time.  

Ross Chastain said, "I am looking forward to returning to upstate New York to join the No Empty Chair campaign. I am proud to have worked with the New York GTSC and the New York DMV for many years to help save lives across the state. The No Empty Chair campaign is near and dear to my heart, as we all know someone who has been affected. I hope that through the Protect Your Melon program, together with the State Police enforcement efforts, we can educate students about the importance of highway safety to prevent any future empty chairs."  

Dawn Burlew, President of Watkins Glen International said, “Safety isn’t just a priority – it’s a life-saving commitment we carry into our local communities as a powerful reminder that every young driver has a family waiting for them to come home. “We proudly support the “No Empty Chair” campaign and are dedicated to help educate the next generation on responsible driving. We urge young drivers across New York to make the responsible choice to buckle up and stay focused to help keep our state safe.”

Chastain, an eighth-generation watermelon farmer, will sport a “Protect Your Melon” logo on his uniform and vehicle when he races in the NASCAR Cup Series at Watkins Glen in early May.  

GTSC offers a Younger Driver Toolkit including resources for coaches and school resource officers. Additional younger driver resources are also available on the DMV website.

About GTSC  

Combined with enforcement campaigns, GTSC coordinates various traffic safety activities throughout the year, and supports ongoing initiatives to improve pedestrian, motorcycle and bicycle safety. The GTSC also sponsors critical training for law enforcement, provides resources for teen drivers and their parents, and promotes seatbelt use statewide.  

For more information about GTSC, visit the GTSC website, or follow the GTSC conversation on Facebook, X and Instagram.  

For more information about DMV, visit the DMV website, or follow the DMV conversation online on Facebook, X and Instagram.  

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