The UT Motor Vehicle Safety Working Group, founded by Dr. Patrick J. Mulrow, UT professor emeritus of medicine, is helping teens learn the dangers of distracted driving.
The group, made up of students, faculty and community members, will present a panel discussion Friday, May 3, at 9:15 a.m. at Bowsher High School, 2200 Arlington Ave.
Coordinating this effort is the chair of the UT Motor Vehicle Safety Working Group Juliane Johnson, who is a health education and public health graduate student. She will moderate Friday’s panel.
“According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 11 percent of all drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash,” Johnson said.
The panel will consist of students, parents, public safety professionals, rehabilitation specialists and legal representatives. They will discuss their personal and professional experiences with distracted driving accidents.
Dr. Tavis Glassman, professor of health education and public health who is a member of the UT Motor Vehicle Safety Working Group, also will provide an update on the laws regarding texting while driving.
The panel is part of a larger weeklong dialogue between students and administrators of Toledo Public Schools that includes a mock car crash, a driving simulator and a screening assessment.
“The educational initiatives at Bowsher High School represent a collaborative effort not only between the two UT campuses, but with many other community agencies such as the Safety Council of Northwest Ohio and the Lucas County Traffic Program,” Glassman said. “It’s only when we combine efforts that we’re able to make a difference on the complex issues such as teenage driving safety.”
