[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Pages 14990-14991]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           TEEN DRIVER SAFETY

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, during the recent district work period, I 
read a front-page Chicago Tribune news article that reminded me of the 
importance of educating young adults about driving safety. And as 
students in Gibson City, IL, can tell you, the story is also a 
testament to what can be achieved through dedication, perseverance, and 
heart.
  Summer can be a dangerous time for teen drivers, many of whom are 
just beginning to build their experience behind the wheel. In my home 
State of Illinois, July is the deadliest month for teen drivers. An 
average of 12 Illinois teens have been killed in car accidents every 
July for the last 10 years. We must work to prevent these tragic losses 
by educating America's teenage drivers about driver safety.
  The Tribune article highlighted the story of the Arends family, of 
Gibson City, IL, who have turned an unimaginably heartbreaking tragedy 
into a successful campaign to save the lives of teen drivers. Three and 
a half years ago, 17-year-old twins Greg and Steve Arends were driving 
to work when Greg, the driver, lost control of the car, which slammed 
sideways into a telephone pole at 80 miles per hour. Neither boy was 
under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and both boys' seatbelts were 
fastened, but unfortunately, Greg's side of the vehicle bore the impact 
of the crash, and he died at the hospital. Miraculously, his twin 
brother Steve survived, thanks in part to wearing a seatbelt.
  A year and a half after the accident, despite their immense pain and 
grief, the Arends family responded to a call from Judy Weber-Jones, a 
teacher at the local high school, who asked if they would be willing to 
help launch a teen driver safety campaign in Gibson City. They agreed, 
and Steve Arends even decided to participate in presentations for his 
peers. His is a powerful message, and it is already making a difference 
in the lives of teens in Gibson City. Though the accident left Steve 
with injuries that he is still trying to overcome, he has displayed 
great courage in sharing his unfortunate experience with his peers in 
Central Illinois.
  Over the last year and a half, the campaign at Gibson City-Melvin-
Sibley High School, called Project Ignition--License to Live, has grown 
to attract the participation of dozens of students and community 
volunteers. The Arends family has allowed students to place pictures of 
Greg around the school and gave the group a picture of the car mangled 
in the accident. Roadside signs erected all over town read ``Slow Down. 
Buckle Up. Remember Greg and Steve.'' Students have staged mock car 
accidents and organized demonstrations with crash simulators. The group 
has also produced videos, PowerPoint presentations, and public service 
announcements aimed at increasing seatbelt use, reducing speeding, and 
promoting safe driving practices among teens.
  I commend the Arends family, Ms. Weber-Jones, and all those who 
collaborate with the Project Ignition--License to Live program for 
their work to save the lives of young drivers in Illinois. The 
campaign's success has been remarkable.
  Since the start of the Project Ignition--License to Live program, 
seatbelt use among teens at Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley High School has 
increased at least 20 percent, the number of speeding tickets issued to 
teens has decreased by more than 70 percent, and the number of 
accidents reported to local police departments has dropped by more than 
half. This program is indeed saving lives. Six teens were involved in 
car accidents this past school year, and in all six cases, the teens 
were wearing their seatbelts and walked away with only minor injuries.
  So what is Project Ignition--License to Live doing differently than 
other teen driver safety programs? In just a short time, this program 
has been able to achieve levels of improvement in teen driver safety 
and accident prevention that parents, teachers, law enforcement, and 
other leaders have not been able to accomplish in decades. The most 
notable difference is that this program is fueled by teens themselves. 
They have found a way to package messages about wearing seatbelts, 
slowing down, and staying alert that truly resonate among their peers. 
Theirs is a model that I believe should be replicated across the 
Nation.
  The SAFETEA highway and transit bill that Congress passed 1 year ago 
included a provision to reward States that have passed strong primary 
seatbelt laws. Such laws allow law enforcement officials to stop, 
ticket, and fine

[[Page 14991]]

drivers for not wearing a seatbelt. My home State of Illinois is one of 
those States that have already passed a primary seatbelt law. In 2006, 
Illinois will receive a one-time payment of $30 million in Federal 
funds authorized by SAFETEA. I commend Illinois for not only passing a 
primary seatbelt law that will save lives but also for dedicating all 
of the $30 million to highway safety programs. I recently sent a letter 
to Governor Blagojevich urging him to use the funds to bolster the 
efforts of groups like Project Ignition License to Live.
  As the example of Gibson City and the Arends family shows, young 
adults take to heart the life lessons of their peers. Therefore, 
Governor Blagojevich and the State of Illinois would be wise to 
coordinate with groups such as Project Ignition--License to Live so 
that young adults can share their personal experiences and remind their 
peers to drive safe and buckle up. I urge my fellow Senators to 
continue to fund these important safety programs and to work with their 
State governments to pass primary seatbelt laws so that other States 
can follow Illinois' example and make highway safety a priority.

                          ____________________