ATLANTA, Oct. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The leading cause
of death among teens in the United
States is motor vehicle crashes, with phones causing one in
every five teen distracted driving fatalities, according to the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. To help keep
teens safe on the road, The UPS Foundation teamed up with Boys
& Girls Clubs of America to create UPS Road Code, a national
program educating teens on safe driving techniques.
Celebrating its fifth anniversary in 2014, the highly successful
UPS Road Code program enables teens to drive change for themselves
and their peers through a combination of classroom sessions and the
use of a driving simulator. Today the program is available in 52
Boys & Girls Clubs throughout 37 U.S. cities and reaches nearly
5,000 teenagers per year nationwide.
National Teen Driver Safety Week
Through the UPS Road Code program, The UPS Foundation and Boys
& Girls Clubs of America are lending their support to National
Teen Driver Safety Week (NTDSW). Held this year from October 19-25, NTDSW is a week annually
designated by Congress to raise awareness of teen driver safety
topics and to encourage safe teen driver and passenger behavior.
With deaths of drivers ages 16 and 17 increasing by 19 percent in
the first six months of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011
(Governors Highway Safety Association), the focus of NTDSW and UPS
Road Code is to inspire parents, teens and educators to take a firm
stance on teen driver safety within their local communities in an
effort to ensure bright futures for America's youth.
Street Smarts
Reaching 15,000 teens since its inception in 2009, UPS Road Code
provides participants with unparalleled training from UPS employees
committed to safety within their communities. The program is
largely based on the same methods used by UPS drivers, who are
known for their safe driving techniques. In fact, UPS now has 7,221
members in its "Circle of Honor" program, recognizing drivers who
can boast 25 years or more of safe driving. Taught by UPS employees
trained as volunteer instructors, the program provides teens with a
combination of classroom-based instruction, as well as time "behind
the wheel" of a virtual driving simulator.
The program focuses on different safety principles, from basic
instruction to the consequences of risky behaviors such as talking
on cell phones, texting or drinking while driving. Teens practice
what they've learned on the driving simulators, which feature a
computer screen that serves as a windshield to the program's
interactive animation, a steering wheel and life-like gas and brake
pedals.
Driving Change
In 2014, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and The UPS
Foundation continue to drive awareness of UPS Road Code and educate
teens by hosting free community events at local Boys & Girls
Clubs in various cities throughout the country. Events include fun
activities and challenges, as well as the chance for attendees to
interact with the program's driving simulators. Participants also
have the opportunity to sign a petition, pledging to make the roads
safer by not driving distracted. During NTDSW, on
Tuesday, October 21, UPS Road Code is
hosting an event at the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Queens in
New York City to further raise
awareness for the issue both locally and nationally.
In addition, teens nationwide have the opportunity to make a
difference and drive change for themselves and their peers. Using
social media, such as the UPS Road Code Facebook page, teens can
share online tools and resources developed to spread the word about
road safety. From tips and statistics to an interactive online quiz
and the safe driving petition, teens are fully equipped to help
share the dangers of distracted driving.
"The UPS Road Code program is more than just a safe-driving
program; it's about encouraging teens to act as catalysts for
driving change," said Myron Gray,
president, UPS U.S. operations. "For five years, UPS Road Code has
offered the resources to empower teens to be ambassadors of safety,
and we look forward to continuing to help them make a positive
difference in their communities."
The UPS Road Code program is available to teens at Boys &
Girls Clubs in the following cities:
- Atlanta, Ga.
- Birmingham, Ala.
- Boston, Mass.
- Carson, Calif.
- Chicago, Ill.
- Cleveland, Ohio
- Columbus, Ohio
- Dallas, Texas
- Detroit, Mich.
- Elk River, Minn.
- Fort Lauderdale, Fla..
- Indianapolis, Ind.
- Jackson, Miss.
- Jersey City, N.J.
- Laguna Beach, Calif.
- Las Vegas, Nev.
- Little Rock, Ark.
- Los Angeles, Calif.
- Louisville, Ky.
- Manchester, N.H.
- Memphis, Tenn.
- New Orleans, La.
- New York, N.Y.
- Oakland, Calif.
- Omaha, Neb.
- Orlando, Fla.
- Philadelphia, Pa.
- Phoenix, Ariz.
- Richmond, Va.
- San Juan Capistrano,
Calif.
- Scottsdale, Ariz.
- Seattle Wash.
- St. Paul, Minn.
- Tampa, Fla.
- Tucson, Ariz.
- Washington, D.C.
- Zionsville,
Ind.
Teens, parents and others interested in learning more about safe
driving and the UPS Road Code program should visit
www.bgca.org/roadcode. For regular updates about the program and
the national and local events, as well as helpful tips, follow UPS
Road Code on www.facebook.com/roadcode.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than
100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (GreatFutures.org) has
enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as
productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,000
Clubs serve some 4 million young people annually through Club
membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities,
towns, public housing and on Native American lands throughout the
country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth
Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a
safe place, caring adult mentors, fun, friendship, and high-impact
youth development programs on a daily basis during critical
non-school hours. Priority programs emphasize academic success,
good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris
Survey of alumni, 57 percent said the Club saved their lives.
National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at
http://www.bgca.org/facebook and http://bgca.org/twitter.
About The UPS Foundation
UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global
leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including
the transportation of packages and freight; the facilitation of
international trade, and the deployment of advanced technology to
more efficiently manage the world of business. Since its founding
in 1907, UPS has built a legacy as a caring and responsible
corporate citizen, supporting programs that provide long-term
solutions to community needs. Founded in 1951, The UPS Foundation
is responsible for facilitating community involvement to local,
national, and global communities. In 2013, UPS and its employees,
active and retired, invested more than $102
million in charitable giving around the world. The UPS
Foundation can be found on the web at UPS.com/Foundation. To
get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141016/152620
SOURCE Boys & Girls Clubs of America; The UPS Foundation