Press Release - 09-13-2017

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Contact: 
Tiffany Portzer
[email protected]


GTSC LAUNCHES “COACHES CARE” CONTEST FOR SCHOOLS
 TO MODEL GOOD DRIVING BEHAVIOR

 

The New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee announced today a contest to help young people learn good driving habits based on important role models in their lives: their coaches.

 

The “Coaches Care” program recruits leaders from athletic programs throughout the state who agree to help teach students safe driving habits. The campaign is part of GTSC’s mission to reduce crashes, the leading cause of death for teens and young adults.

 

GTSC received a grant from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and Ford Driving Skills for Life (Ford DSFL) for the contest. School districts that qualify could win one of three $3,000 cash prizes and 30 long-sleeve t-shirts.

 

“Traffic safety is a team effort so we appreciate the many coaches throughout the state who serve as great role models to students as they are learning to drive,” said Terri Egan, Acting GTSC Chair and the Deputy Executive Commissioner of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. “We hope school districts throughout the state will compete in this contest and find creative ways to share the safe-driving message.”

 

The contest runs from now until April 30, 2018. School districts must register by November 1.

 

There are three categories for participating school districts: small, medium or large. Coaches in the districts are encouraged to discuss adhering to highway safety laws and Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) provisions, whether as a driver or a passenger, throughout the fall, winter and spring sports seasons. Rules for the contest are on the GTSC website.

 

Created in 2016, the Coaches Care program grew out of an October 2015 report by GHSA titled “Under Their Influence: The New Teen Safe Driving Champions.” Teens were surveyed as part of the research, and 68 percent identified coaches as safe driving influences in their lives.  Coaches Care uses role models with whom students regularly interact to help them learn good driving habits. GTSC provides coaches with sample talking points to help them impart valuable lessons to their students. The campaign also includes a series of school sports posters featuring teens and traffic safety messages. 

 

Coaches are encouraged to teach their players about the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s “Five to Drive” rules.

 

They are:

  • No Impaired Driving.
  • Buckle Up. Every Trip. Every Time. Front Seat and Back. Lead by example.
  • Put It Down. One Text or Call Could Wreck It All.
  • Stop Speeding Before It Stops You.
  • No More Than One Passenger at Any Time.

 

For official contest rules, registration or to request materials, visit the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee Young Driver Toolkit at  www.safeny.ny.gov/CoachesCareEnroll. You can also find the information on the New York State Public High School Athletic Association website at www.nysphsaa.org/.

 

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