HR0378 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0378 LRB097 12056 GRL 55832 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Car accidents are the leading cause of death of 16 to 19-year olds; crashes on the road kill more teens than cancer, homicide, and suicide combined; and

WHEREAS, In the United States, teen driver and peer passenger deaths account for one quarter of total teen deaths every year; and

WHEREAS, Distracted or impaired teen drivers are not only a danger to themselves, but more than half a million people are involved in crashes every year where a teen driver was behind the wheel; and

WHEREAS, According to a study completed in 2011 by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm Insurance, nearly one in five teen drivers involved in fatal crashes were reported to have been distracted while driving; these figures do not account for those accidents that are not reported; and

WHEREAS, Focusing attention on removing distractions and preventing behaviors that are known to raise crash risk, such as speeding, alcohol use, failure to wear a seat belt, distractions from peer passengers, and texting while driving, can lead to successfully and significantly lowering crash risks for teen drivers; and

WHEREAS, Mt. Pulaski High School in Mt. Pulaski, Illinois, will hold a student assembly on May 23, 2011 to educate high school students about the dangers of distracted driving and encourage them to practice safe driving habits; and

WHEREAS, Mt. Pulaski High School will welcome State Farm Agent Deron Powell and Miss Illinois 2010, Whitney Thorpe-Klinsky, to the high school as part of the presentation on safe teen driving; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize and applaud the students, faculty, and administration of Mt. Pulaski High School for devoting time and resources to encouraging students to drive safely and avoid distractions while driving so that they arrive at their destinations alive and well; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Mt. Pulaski High School as a symbol of our esteem and respect.