National Teen Safe Driving Program Expands to Serve More Teens

ATLANTA, Oct. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, accounting for more than one in three teenage deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To raise awareness for teen driver safety topics, Congress created National Teen Driver Safety Week (NTDSW); now in its 10th year, NTDSW takes place October 15-21, 2017. 

Throughout NTDSW, classes and events will be held at Boys & Girls Clubs of America locations across the country to emphasize the importance of teen safety on the road and to highlight a Club program called UPS Road Code®.  Developed by Boys & Girls Clubs of America and The UPS Foundation, UPS Road Code is a free national teen safe driving program that educates teens on safe driving techniques and best practices behind the wheel.  Taught by UPS employees trained as volunteer instructors, UPS Road Code provides teens with a combination of classroom-based instruction and practice time using a virtual driving simulator.

UPS Road Code is currently available in 57 Boys & Girls Clubs throughout 46 U.S. cities, reaching some 5,000 teens per year and gives teens the opportunity to drive change for themselves and their peers.  Expanding into three new cities in 2017 (Nashville, Tenn., Denver, Colo. and Charlottesville, Va.), the program is largely based on the same safety training used by UPS drivers, who are known for their safe driving techniques. UPS's 102,000 drivers worldwide are among the safest on the roads, logging more than three billion miles per year and delivering more than four billion packages safely.

In addition, UPS Road Code has named its two 2017 National Teen Ambassadors: Jaylen Vinson from Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton Harbor and Carrea McNeal from Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, both of whom will win $1,500 scholarships and serve as national advocates for teen safe driving.

Launched in 2016, the UPS Road Code Ambassador role was developed to spur top program graduates to become safe driving ambassadors among peers and in their communities.  After reviewing 57 nominees, one from each UPS Road Code Club, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and The UPS Foundation selected the top winner in each region, with Vinson winning in the East Region and McNeal winning the West Region.  Both winners plan to share their passion about teen safe driving by hosting community and high school peer-to-peer events, participating in creative social media campaigns and spreading the word through speaking engagements.

"UPS Road Code prepared me for my driver's license exam and made me feel confident in my ability to stay safe and focused on roadways," said McNeal, UPS Road Code National Ambassador, West Region. "The program made me the responsible driver I am today, and as a UPS Road Code National Teen Ambassador, I will work toward recruiting more teens to take the program and prevent reckless driving in our communities."

UPS Road Code focuses on different safety principles throughout the program, from basic instruction to the consequences of risky behaviors such as talking on cell phones, texting or drinking while driving. During the program, teens have a chance to 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.

"The UPS Road Code program is more than just a safe-driving program," said Jerald Barnes, Director of Global Community Relations and Employee Engagement. "It's about empowering teens to be ambassadors for safety and encouraging them to act as catalysts for driving change. Through a committed partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, UPS Road Code provides the information and resources to help teens make our roads safer, starting with themselves and spreading to family, friends and beyond."

Parents and others interested in learning more about safe driving and the UPS Road Code program should visit The UPS Foundation or www.bgca.org/roadcode.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 150 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, 4,300 Clubs serve four million young people annually through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in Boys & Girls Clubs of America-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, 54 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 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 leads its global citizenship programs and is responsible for facilitating community involvement to local, national, and global communities. In 2016, UPS and its employees, active and retired, invested more than $116 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, follow @UPS_News on Twitter.

SOURCE Boys & Girls Clubs of America