GLW Children’s Council Attends Distracted Driving Conference In Washington, DC

GLW Children’s Council sponsored several youth and leaders to attend the Distracted Driving Conference in Washington D.C.

We are seeing a increase risk of distracted driving in our areas and felt that this conference would help to train our youth to be leaders in eliminating dis-tracted driving in our area. Among those in attendance where: Rebekah Birch, Alissa Maxon, Tyrell Smith, Logan Smith, Emma Sawyer and Samantha Hughes from Garfield County with their leader Marcie Smith and Margo Erickson and Harley Wietzki from Wheeler County and their leader Dawn Erickson, also in at-tendance Trisha Crandall Director and Michelle Sawyer Project Coordinator of GLW Children’s Council .

What they have Learned at the Conference will be presented at Youth Advisory Meetings, on the radio, games, and elsewhere in the media.

1 major area of focus for the conference was cell phone use, with teens 27% of all crashes in 2011 involved cell phone distraction. 13% where alcohol involvement.

The National Transportation Safety Board reports that 3,092 roadway fatali-ties last year involved distracted drivers, they believe the number could be higher since most don’t want to admit they were distracted. 

In addition to the conference our youth were able to meet with Adrian Smith, get a tour of the Capitol, and visit Arlington Cemetery where we all wrote a postcard to our veterans and donated 2 wreaths for the Christmas decorations.

The State of Nebraska ‘s law states that ALL drivers are prohibited from tex-ting while driving, and drivers with a learners permit are prohibited from using cell phones. Please help us get this message out!!