Teens like to get information from their friends and other teens. They don't lecture like parents and teachers. But you have to be where teens are to reach them. My idea is to go to places like movie theaters, bowling alleys, beaches & pools, and fast food restaurants to get safe driving information in the hands of teens.
I'm working with my local movie theater to come in and set up an informational table in the lobby. The manager will allow me to come in on a Saturday night when most teenagers will be going to the movies. The theater has plasma TVs set up all around the lobby and they will play a teen driving safety DVD the night I'm there. Since customers have to wait in the lobby before going to their movie and go there for snacks, it's a good place to set up a table.
I got the safety materials from an insurance agent. She's also getting the safety DVD for me to give the movie theater to play. I'm going to get balloons and decorations to dress up the table and get the teens' attention. I'm also going to have items to give away on the table from the insurance agent (key chains, road atlas', calendars, etc.). If I can get items and gift cards donated from local businesses, I'll set up a raffle and give a ticket to people who stop at my table.
Hopefully I'll see people I know from school who will stop by the table to talk while they're waiting and I can talk to them about driving safety. I'll also have a brochure for parents who come to the table telling them how to talk to their teens about driving. And even if no one comes over to talk, they will see the safety video on the lobby TVs. If only one teen hears the message, that's one more teen paying attention on the road. But I think there will be hundreds of teens and adults who get the message which will get them thinking about safer driving habits and the consequences of unsafe driving.
