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Teens in the Driver Seat Center

Description

More teenagers die in car crashes than from any other cause. While car crashes account for 2 percent of all deaths nationwide, they account for 43 percent of teen deaths. The economic cost of this tragedy across the United States exceeds $41 billion each year and this national problem has reached epidemic proportions in Texas. The death toll for teens across the state is more than 500 each year. The vast majority of these crashes are attributable to a combination of driver inexperience, coupled with one or more of the five major risks facing teen drivers (driving at night, distractions such as cell phones and other young passengers, speeding, not using seat belts, and drinking and driving).

To address this growing crisis, the Texas Transportation Institute has developed a peer-to-peer driving safety program unlike any safety program in Texas or the nation. Teens in the Driver Seat (TDS) relies upon young drivers themselves to create safety messages and then serve as the messengers to make their peers aware of the risks of teen driving.

Expertise

Mr. Russell Henk has been a member of TTI's staff for 18 years and currently serves as Division Head and Administrator for TTI's Research and Implementation Offices in Dallas, El Paso, Houston and San Antonio, Texas. These regional offices serve a vital role in testing, evaluating and deploying the results of the Institute's research and development efforts. During Mr. Henk's career with TTI, he has supervised and/or participated in over 60 research projects and technical studies. These technical activities have primarily been focused on transportation system operations, management and safety, with many of his recent projects being in the areas of emergency evacuation, teen driver safety, and Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) applications.

As TTI's Public Affairs Officer, Bernie Fette is responsible for directing TTI's media relations, legislative relations and public outreach efforts. In addition to supporting the advancement of TTI's mission, Mr. Fette has led TTI's efforts to assist TxDOT in communicating more effectively with its target audiences in a variety of subject areas, including construction, safety and policy matters.

Cooperative Relationships/Sponsors

The Teens in the Driver Seat Center maintains cooperative relationships with the following sponsors:

  • the Texas Department of Transportation,
  • Bexar County District Attorney's Office,
  • AT&T,
  • Zachary Construction Corporation, and
  • the City of San Antonio.

For More Information

Russell Henk
Teens in the Driver Seat Center
Texas Transportation Institute
Texas A&M University System
One Castle Hills
San Antonio, TX 78213
ph. (210) 979-9411 · fax (210) 979-9694
r-henk@tamu.edu
or
Bernie Fette
Teens in the Driver Seat Center
Texas Transportation Institute
Texas A&M University System
One Castle Hills
San Antonio, TX 78213
b-fette@tamu.edu
Web Site
http://www.t-driver.com/

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