Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of accidental death among teens. The University of Missouri’s evidence-based program First Impact aims to change the statistics by providing resources to parents and teens aimed at eliminating dangerous driving behaviors and reducing risk.
The Kansas City Missouri Police Department will host a free First Impact program to introduce parents and teens to how Missouri’s Graduated Driver’s License law works and risks of driving. The program is April 25 from 6 to 7:30 pm at the South Patrol, 9701 Marion Park Drive, and is open to parents, grandparents and guardians to take alongside their teen.
According to G. Allyn Workman, Health Educator at the University of Missouri’s First Impact Program, “The GDL law is the single most important tool that parents have to use to help keep their new driver as safe as possible.”
Studies show that novice drivers who are coached by a parent or caregiver and who adhere to the GDL law saw a reduction in car crashes by 20-40%.
Workman says there are five critical parts of the GDL which enforce safer driving: increase practice driving hours, limit nighttime driving, limit passengers, enforce safety belt use and creating a parent-teen driving agreement.
Learn more about the class or register here.