When it comes to getting behind the wheel, research shows that teens understand they are vulnerable and well aware of the many risks on the road.

October 18-24 is National Teen Drivers Safety Week (NTDSW). The NTDSW’s 2015 theme for is ‘Avoiding Regret, Avoiding Impaired Driving.’

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for all 15- to 20-year olds, according to the most recent data available from the National Center for Health Statistics. NTDSW focuses on the ways teens drive impaired, which are not only because of drug and alcohol use, but also because of distractions like their phones or with passengers, or driving while emotions are high. NTDSW also focuses their efforts on the feeling most felt by teens after an accident – regret. By just talking about the feeling of regret after a motor vehicle accident sends a powerful message to teen drivers.

Regional West has a long-term, vested interest in seeing teen accidents and motor vehicle death statistics in western Nebraska reduced.

“We encourage parents, area schools, clubs, and groups to start a conversation about the dangers that teen drivers face by driving impaired or being a passenger in a car with an impaired driver,” said Holly Johnson, Injury Prevention Coordinator at Regional West Medical Center.

One program being introduced to the Panhandle to start that conversation is Teens in the Driver Seat (TDS). TDS is the nation’s first widespread student-led school program that focuses exclusively on teen driver safety. The peer-to-peer program is designed to address both teen awareness and behavior by turning peer pressure in a positive and productive direction. TDS focuses on the top five risks for teen drivers: Night time driving, speeding, distractions, low seat belt use, and alcohol.

Since this program’s beginnings in Texas in 2002, there has been a 14.6 percent decrease in injury and fatal teen driver crashes in counties where TDS was implemented. Nebraska implemented this program for the first time during the 2013-2014 school year. Area schools participating are Scottsbluff High School, led by the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) club, and Gering High School, led by the Student Council.

“We encourage all schools to be involved with TDS. It is a very user-friendly program with proven results,” said Johnston.

If schools would like to learn more or need help with submitting their application, they can contact Johnston at 308-630-1584. Applications can be found at http://dhhs.ne.gov/PublicHealth/InjuryPrevention/Pages/MotorVehicle.aspx.

Regional West, in partnership with Panhandle Prevention Coalition, is offering area schools a safe driving presentation. Johnston, along with retired state trooper Chuck Elley and Tammy Wheeler, mother of the late Alexis Wheeler, will visit panhandle schools, church groups, or youth clubs and discuss the dangers that face teen drivers. For more information or to schedule a presentation, contact Johnston at 308-632-1211, or Elley at 308-631-0253.

Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff, Neb., is the parent company of Regional West Medical Center, a 182-bed regional referral center and one of three Level II Trauma Centers in the state. As the region’s only tertiary referral medical center, Regional West offers care that spans more than 32 medical specialties provided by over 28 physician clinics. With nearly 300 providers, and over 2,000 employees, Regional West provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming.