Flagstaff Youth Risk Network tackles leading cause of teen death

Nathan Lunty, from Alberta Health Services Emergency Services, took the challenge during National Teen Driver Safety Week, to practice safe texting habits that include never texting while driving. Lunty, along with other Alberta Health Services and Emergency Services personnel, was part of four teams who visited Flagstaff schools last week to educate young drivers about the dangers of texting while driving.

The Flagstaff Youth Risk Network partnered with Parachute for ‘Project Gearshift,’ a national public-awareness campaign aimed at reducing distracted, aggressive, and impaired driving – the leading cause of death among teens.

Coincident with Parachute’s National Teen Driver Safety Week (NTDSW), Oct. 19-25, four Flagstaff Schools, Killam, Sedgewick, Forestburg, and Daysland had lunchtime displays highlighting the ‘Practice Safe Texting’ campaign, under Project Gearshift.

Now in its second year, Project Gearshift was created to positively change the driving habits of Canadian teenagers, including those in Flagstaff County, between the ages of 16 and 19, who continue to be at a higher risk of death per kilometre than all other age groups.

While only 13 per cent of licensed drivers in Canada are 16-to-24 years old, this same young age group accounts for roughly one-quarter of fatalities and serious injuries on the road.

“What makes teen driver fatalities so tragic is that the vast majority of them are completely preventable,” says Katherine Gagnon.

“Through community initiatives that took place at schools across Flagstaff County, we hope to inspire young drivers to ensure they drive safely, while making them aware of the devastating effects of distracted, aggressive, and impaired driving.”

Carter Cannady took the challenge to practice safe texting by not texting and driving at Forestburg School last Thursday, Oct. 23. Members of Alberta Health Services Emergency Services, Kevin Lunty, Nathan Lunty, and Tara Sieben, as well as Flagstaff County Emergency Services Coordinator Kim Cannady, visited the school in conjunction with National Teen Driver Safety Week.

“We need to take action to help make our roads safer for all drivers, and education, knowledge and empowerment are key,” says Louise Logan, Parachute’s President and CEO.

“By partnering with the Flagstaff Youth Risk Network, and through Parachute’s national initiatives such as National Teen Driver Safety Week

#PRACTICESAFETEXT, we’re helping keep teens safe behind the wheel.”

Parachute, in collaboration with the Flagstaff Youth Risk Network and schools across Flagstaff, is committed to raising the profile of road safety for teens.

As part of NTDSW, young people, community leaders, and VIPs are encouraging others to take part in Parachute’s #PRACTICESAFETEXT campaign.

Parachute is dedicated to preventing injuries and saving lives. A national charity, Parachute officially formed in July 2012 when the former Safe Communities Canada.

Parachute’s vision is an injury-free Canada with Canadians living long lives to the fullest.
For information, visit at parachutecanada.org, follow them on Twitter, and join them on Facebook.