4-H
CARTEENS is a traffic safety program conducted by 4-H teen leaders and their program partners for juvenile traffic offenders. 4-H
CARTEENS goals include:
- reducing the number of repeat juvenile traffic
offenders,
- decreasing the number of teen traffic offenders,
and
- increasing teen awareness of traffic/vehicular
safety.
Save the Date! October 16, 2008
State 4-H CARTEENS Conference
Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center
All 4-H Educators and adult 4-H CARTEENS program partners and presenters are invited to the 2008 State 4-H CARTEENS Professional Development Conference. It will be Thursday, October 16 at the new Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center. Program highlights include more than twenty workshop sessions ranging from how to start a new county 4-H CARTEENS program, to tips for improving existing CARTEENS programs, to updated information on a wide range of safe-driving topics, to new resources available for your use, and everything in-between.
Check this website in late spring for more detailed program information and registration materials,
RFP
Request for CARTEENS Conference Proposals
Click HERE for the proposal form to present workshops and exhibit sessions at the October 16 4-H CARTEENS Workshop. Proposals are due May 15, and will be peer reviewed,
4-H CARTEENS Background
For more than a century, the Ohio State University
Extension (OSU Extension) 4-H Youth Development
Program has helped people help themselves through
educational programs and activities in each of
Ohio’s 88 counties. OSU faculty and staff
located in county Extension offices recruit and
engage adult volunteers and teen leaders who provide
leadership to educational programs for youth in
local communities. Over the years, extensive county
needs assessments conducted by Ohio State University
Extension repeatedly identified teen vehicular
safety as a priority need in Ohio’s communities.
The 4-H CARTEENS vehicular safety initiative was
developed in response to this need. The original
CARTEENS Program began in Brown County, Ohio in
1987 with the support network of Becky Cropper
(Brown County OSU Extension 4-H Educator), volunteer
teen leaders, the juvenile probate court, and
the Ohio Highway Patrol. Since 1987, the 4-H CARTEENS
program has expanded throughout Ohio and to several
other states across the nation.
The “Car” in CARTEENS stands for “Caution
And Responsibility”, and “Teens”
refers to the teenagers who help prepare and present
the program. In CARTEENS programs, 4-H teen leaders
teach traffic education safety programs to first-time
teen traffic offenders, while also building offenders’
self-esteem and interpersonal skills. Teen traffic
offenders attending this program have typically
been cited for speeding, stop sign violations,
reckless operation, and other, similar moving
violations. CARTEENS program topics include
excessive speed, driving under the influence,
seat belt safety use, consequences of unsafe decisions,
dealing with peer pressure, understanding traffic
laws, and recognizing and reacting to traffic
signs and signals.
Ohio 4-H CARTEENS has proven to be a valuable
tool in educating Ohio’s teen drivers and
saving lives on Ohio roads. In addition, communities
are strengthened by bringing together teens and
adults representing local agencies and organizations
that are working to address this need. Teens also
gain leadership, public speaking, and organizational
skills. Data collected from 4-H CARTEENS participants
indicate a significant reduction in second-time
traffic offenses, increased use of safety belts,
reduced drinking and driving, and an increased
use of caution when driving. More than 80 percent
of the participants in a recent survey said they
planned to use more caution when driving and will
increase their use of seat belts. Many Ohio counties
have received an award of honor from the National
Safety Council Youth Division in recognition of
their program impacts.
Why
is CARTEENS Important? - Facts About Teen Driving
- In
2005, 119 teen drivers, 60 teen passengers,
and 6 teen pedestrians were killed in fatal
car crashes in Ohio.
- Traffic
accidents are the number one cause of death
among American teens.
-
Ohio teen drivers were involved in more traffic
crashes than any other age group in 2005.
- Teen
drivers were involved in 246 fatal crashes,
25,270 injury traffic crashes, and 63,694 property
damage crashes in Ohio in 2005. 64% of these
accidents were caused by driver error.
- Lack
of driving experience is the most significant
factor in the high number of teen crashes.
- Only
34.9% of the teens killed in Ohio traffic accidents
in 2005 were wearing seatbelts at the time of
the crash.
Source: 2005 Traffic Crash Facts, Ohio Department
of Public Safety
webpage
updated March 3, 2008
Kathryn
J. Cox, Extension 4-H Specialist, Youth Development
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