ATLANTA, Oct. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --
According to the most recent report from the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, 1,678 drivers age 16 to 20 died in
motor vehicle crashes in 2014, up 1.2 percent from 1,651 drivers in
this age group in 2013. Further data indicates this increase in
accidents stems from cellphone use while behind the wheel. Nearly
42 percent of high school students have texted or emailed when in
the driver's seat at least once in the past 30 days, according to a
2014 survey conducted by the Center for Disease Control and
Prevention. Digital distractions along with failure to learn safe
driving techniques have both contributed to motor vehicle crashes
becoming the leading cause of death among teens in the United States.
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. Now
in its ninth year, the highly successful UPS Road Code program
enables teens to drive change for themselves and their peers
through a combination of classroom-based instruction and practice
"behind the wheel" of a virtual driving simulator. In addition to
the hands-on support of the volunteer UPS instructors, the program
now offers online resources for parents and teen drivers to prepare
for the realities of the road. To date the program has reached more
than 25,000 participants since its launch in 2009 and is available
in 54 Boys & Girls Clubs throughout 44 U.S. cities as well as
in five countries around the
world.
Safety First
UPS Road Code provides participants with unparalleled training
from UPS employees committed to safety within their
communities. Taught by approximately 125 UPS employees trained
as volunteer instructors, the program is largely based on the same
methods used by UPS drivers, who are known for their safe driving
techniques. In fact, 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. UPS
also has 8,703 members in its "Circle of Honor" program,
recognizing drivers who can boast 25 years or more of safe driving.
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
Throughout 2016, 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.
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 page, teens can share
online tools and resources developed to spread the word about road
safety. From tips and statistics to an online quiz and info on safe
driving techniques, the program helps teens be aware of the
potential dangers they may face on the road and enables them to
share those insights with friends and family.
Furthermore, the UPS Road Code Ambassador program, which debuted
this year, rewards teens that demonstrate superb safe driving
techniques and serves to educate their peers on the dangers of
distracted driving. This year the program also announced that
Liberty Mutual Insurance is offering up to 10 percent discount in
all 50 states to UPS Road Code graduates.
"The UPS Road Code program is designed to help teens develop a
thorough understanding of safe driving practices and to act as
catalysts for driving change," said Myron
Gray, president UPS U.S. operations. "By providing the best
resources and learning tools, such as our state-of-the-art driving
simulators, we are setting up teens for success and safety on the
road, and through this program, we look forward to encouraging more
and more teens to become ambassadors of safety in their
communities."
"Boys & Girls Clubs of America's partnership of nine years
with The UPS Foundation has enabled us to provide thousands of
teens across the country with access to a dynamic, interactive and
effective safe driving program," said Jim
Clark, president and CEO for BGCA. "Through UPS Road Code,
teens learn the real-life risks and consequences of distracted
driving and our volunteer UPS instructors help them to understand
how to eliminate distractions when they're in the driver's seat.
Like all programs at Boys & Girls Clubs, UPS Road Code prepares
teens to be responsible young adults beyond Club doors and to serve
as positive role models for their peers."
The UPS Road Code program is available to teens at Boys &
Girls Clubs in the following cities:
1. Aberdeen,
Md.
|
12. Elk River,
Minn.
|
23. Memphis,
Tenn.
|
34. Phoenix,
Ariz.
|
2. Atlanta,
Ga.
|
13. Fort Lauderdale,
Fla.
|
24. Milwaukee,
Wisc.
|
35. Portland,
Ore.
|
3. Benton Harbor,
M.I.
|
14. Hartford,
Conn.
|
25. Mobile,
Ala.
|
36. San Francisco,
Calif.
|
4. Boston,
Mass.
|
15. Jackson,
Miss.
|
26. Naples,
Fla.
|
37. San Juan
Capistrano, Calif.
|
5. Bronx,
N.Y.
|
16. Jacksonville, Fla.
|
27. New Orleans,
La.
|
38. Scottsdale,
Ariz.
|
6. Carson,
Calif.
|
17. Jersey City,
N.J.
|
28. New York,
N.Y.
|
39. St. Louis,
Mo.
|
7. Chicago,
Ill.
|
18. Kansas City,
Mo.
|
29. Oakland,
Calif.
|
40. St. Paul,
Minn.
|
8. Cleveland,
Ohio
|
19. Las Vegas,
Nev.
|
30. Omaha,
Neb.
|
41. Tampa,
Fla.
|
9. Columbus,
Ohio
|
20. Little Rock,
Ark.
|
31. Orlando,
Fla.
|
42. Tucson,
Ariz.
|
10. Dallas,
Texas
|
21. Los Angeles,
Calif.
|
32. Philadelphia,
Pa.
|
43. Washington,
DC
|
11. Detroit,
Mich.
|
22. Manchester,
N.H
|
33. Pinellas Park,
Fla.
|
44. Zionsville,
IN
|
Teens, parents and others interested in learning more about safe
driving, the UPS Road Code program and access to new tools and tips
should visit 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, more than 4,200
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, 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 (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
leads its global citizenship programs and is responsible for
facilitating community involvement to local, national, and global
communities. In 2015, UPS and its employees, active and retired,
invested more than $110 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 or follow @UPS_News.
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SOURCE Boys & Girls Clubs of America