Helping save teen drivers from themselves

The program is nothing short of bribery. But when one considers how lethal driving is for teens today, questioning the methods over the results seems singularly silly.

A teen driver safety program begun in Crystal Lake by a lone police officer 10 years ago has been so effective in getting students to wear seat belts and drive more safely that it has spread to six more high schools and details about its operation are being sought from numerous high schools and police departments from Champaign to Wisconsin.

It's not hard to imagine why. Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for those 16 to 19, and they cause hundreds of thousands of injuries. As every parent knows, cars and teens are a very dangerous mix, especially in the age of cell phones.

As every parent also knows, bribery and competition tend to work when it comes to kids. And the Operation Click program created by Crystal Lake police officer Sean McGrath uses liberal doses of both. Prizes like restaurant coupons, candy and gasoline gift cards are awarded to drivers on the spot if they are found wearing seat belts or driving safely.

And if, during spot checks four times a year, a high school's driving population is found to have 90-95 percent seat belt use compliance, the name of a student from that school is drawn. If more than 95 percent are buckled up, two names are drawn. If they have no traffic violations that year, their names are entered in a drawing with similarly chosen students from four or so high schools to win a new car. And little is fonder to the heart of a teen driver.

"The biggest thing is that they have an opportunity to win a brand new car," said Nick Pyan of Crystal Lake South High School and the program's student of the year last year. "If not for that, it wouldn't be as successful."

In other words, incentives and peer pressure work. The program's results have been dramatic. Most participating schools started with seat belt use of around 65 percent. Most with the program find 95 percent compliance or better after it is in place for awhile.

Better still, though police or faculty do the major compliance spot checks, the organization of each program and the prize distribution is student run, which helps to increase interest and effectiveness. Student spot checks for seat belt use generally lead to prizes for users, little day-lifters for making smart choices.

Of course, the program takes support from the outside, too. Local car dealers must donate the new cars. Restaurants and other merchants must donate prizes or the money for them.

But mostly it takes teens to help run the programs and teen drivers motivated enough to drive more safely, follow traffic rules and wear their seat belts as a matter of routine.

"The ultimate goal is we're trying to create a habit for life," said program creator McGrath. "If we do that, then I think we're saving lives."

And every little bit helps in the battle to save teen drivers from themselves.