Youth Driven Becky White

To say that Roz Thompson is passionate about educating teens is an understatement. She is a joyful force working hard to educate youth on how to stay safe behind the wheel. She also focues on the parents role in helping teens make good decisions while driving. She has been with AAA Northeast for over 20 years and is the Senior Public Affairs Specialist. I am honored to introduce you to Roz.



AAA Northeast Youth Programs/Support:


SHIFTING GEARS - The blunt truth about driving under the influence of cannabis

FREE membership for teens 16-19

AAA NORTHEAST COMMUNITY OUTREACH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

Matthew Dennison was driving home with his best friend when their car collided head on with an alleged drunken driver. Matthew was seriously injured and lost his fight 27 days after that crash. Within this episode his father, Mark Dennison, shares what happened on that day and how this crash has changed his life forever. 

This episode we interview UMASS Professors Jennifer McDermott and Shannon Roberts, who share their research about driving as an adolescent with ADHD.

Dr. Roberts is an assistant professor of industrial engineering at UMASS Amherst. Her research is in human factors and she considers human abilities and limitations when we design technology. She has a particular focus on vehicles and how we can consider information about how people drive to better inform the design of vehicles.

Jen McDermott is an associate professor in the psychological and brain sciences department at UMASS and her focus is on developmental science. Studying early childhood attention and self regulation skills that are crucial to good behavioral control. Trying to understand what are the factors that help kids develop better attention and better self regulation. How do we help adolescents become better drivers by developing and using these skills when getting behind the wheel of a vehicle.

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Roberts Research Group Website: http://people.umass.edu/scroberts/index.html



APP - Behind the wheel with ADHD

Thomas is one of our Youth Driven leaders and knows first hand how one persons choice to drive impaired can impact so many people. He shares his tips on how he stays calm behind the wheel and how we all need to come together and make better choices when it comes to driving. Thank you Thomas for being so open and continue to lead by example.

In July of 2009 Joel's Feldman’s daughter, Casey was walking to her summer job. She was in a crosswalk when a 58 year old man rolled through the stop sign and struck her. Casey did not survive her injuries and was killed that day because the driver that hit her made a choice to take his eyes off the road and drive distracted. Joel has made it his life's work to educate youth about the dangers of distracted driving so no one will ever have to experience the loss and pain that his family has had to endure.

END Distracted Driving - Following Casey’s death her parents, Joel Feldman and Dianne Anderson, created EndDD.org and have worked to keep all of us safer on the roads from distracted drivers. Joel has personally given more than 900 presentations to about 200,000 students and adults. EndDD.org provides speakers for school presentations, as well as community and business presentations.

Within this episode we also discussed:

“Casey taught us that each and every person has a unique and beautiful story and it is in the telling of those stories that we change the world for the better.”

Post traumatic growth - People who have experienced terrible trauma survive through it, learn from it and choose to grow.

“You can’t cure my grief but knowing that I can talk to you is helpful”

"I' statements are powerful and work. ~ 

"I feel nervous when you are driving and looking at your phone.”

“Mom, Dad I love you but I don’t feel safe when you are driving and look at your phone.”

Grace is a passionate and kind student leader that truly cares about traffic safety. She shares in this podcast her perspective about distracted driving, impaired driving, drowsy driving and how important it is to have the courage to speak up to your peers about making safe choices.