#GetConvinced

HERE ARE THE FACTS:

• In 2022, motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of death among teenage girls and one of the leading causes of death among teenage boys.
• In 2022, 62% of deaths among passenger vehicle occupants ages 16-19 were drivers.
• the fatal crash rate per mile driven for 16-19 year-olds is nearly 3 times the rate for drivers ages 20 and over.
• In 2022, 50% of 14-19 year old drivers in fatal auto crashes were unbelted.
• In 2020, 35% of male teen drivers and 18% of female teen drivers who were involved in fatal crashes were speeding at the time of the crash.

In 2024 CTR’s #GetConvinced Program has participated in 20 events reaching 2211 teens and 662 adults/children participated in our educational activities, and 800 teens rode the Seatbelt Convincer. Since its inception in 2015 the #GetConvinced program has participated in roughly 180 events including 25 different high schools in 9 East TN counties, 3 private driving schools in Knox. Co., a homeschool co-op, 8 college events, 27 general public events such as Luke Bryan farm tour concert, Open streets, Asian and Karns Festivals, and many others. This program has connected with well over 16,286 high school students along with several thousand children and adults during its short history. Additionally, this program has been showcased at 4-H leadership camps, Community Teen events sponsored by the Kiwanis Club, a Rule the Road event, UT College of Engineering’s Engineers Day targeting high school students across the state, UT Police Department safety events and many others.

#GetConvinced

Crashes are a leading cause of death for teenagers. From 2012 to 2021 there was a 12.6% increase in fatal crashes with young drivers. They speed, they make mistakes, and they get distracted easily – especially if their friends are in the car.

Our program aims to make a meaningful difference by teaching teenagers how to overcome these inherent risks through events with speakers, quizzes, interactive activities, and demonstrations. See below for more details on our event activities. We primarily reach teens by partnering with high school drivers education and wellness teachers to spend a day hosting events for their classes every semester, but we do branch out and host modified events or booths at community events and other youth programs. If you are interested in helping us reach teens in the East Tennessee area, please reach out to us via the form at the bottom of the page. We do not charge for these events!

Seatbelt Convincer

The Seatbelt Convincer safely simulates a low-speed crash (5-7 MPH) by allowing a rider to sit in the seat at the top of the carriage, buckle up and once the lever is released, slowly slide down the inclined ramp hitting a rubber bumper at the bottom. The riders are often shocked after impact because the impact is stronger than they imagine.

Realizing that even a slow “parking lot crash” feels that intense even with the use of a seatbelt can convince them that it is worth it to buckle up every time they get in a vehicle.

Teens & Truck Driving Simulator

This simulator houses six individual virtual reality simulator stations equipped with steering wheels, brake, and gas pedals, along with television monitors that wrap around the driver’s seat to make the experience as realistic as possible. Teens receive instructions from a state trooper aboard the trailer to navigate through the simulation. Each simulator station will take teens through seven possible driving situations including: distracted driving, stopping safely, reaction times, tractor trailers making wide turns, staying away from the No Zones of a tractor trailer, and obeying the Move Over Law.

Virtual Reality Goggles

The Center for Transportation Research commissioned a 5-minute video, filmed in Knoxville, to be viewed on the Oculus Go VR Goggles. This video puts the viewer in a car with three other teens where they experience a variety of distracted and dangerous activities as the front seat passenger. To show the dangers of distracted driving the viewer has a 360° view of all that’s going on in the car, then the ride ends with a crash on Neyland Drive.

Usually teens react throughout the video with exclamations on how the driver and passengers are being unsafe, and often remark afterwards how they would reprimand friends for engaging in similar behavior in the future.

Portable Driving Simulator

This driving simulator shows teens how to drive safely around large trucks and buses. There are eight scenarios in a variety of circumstances such as wide turning and passing distance plus experiencing a large truck’s large blind spot called the No-Zone. Additionally, weather conditions (snow, rain, fog) as well as rural roadways and nighttime driving can be added. This simulator has three large monitors plus a vehicle seat with seat belt, steering wheel, gas pedal, brakes, turn signals, and a horn.

This simulator has been on loan to the Drivers’ Education classes of Cocke County High school off and on for the past 5 years, where almost 1000 students have been able to reap the benefits of this additional safety training.

Kahoot Quiz

One of our most information dense activities is our interactive quiz game, utilizing Kahoot software. This is unlike your average quiz, as after each question is answered by everyone on the online quiz platform the activity leader involves the class by asking students what they answered and why they answered that way – as well as involving their personal driving experience in the explanation of the correct answer. The Kahoot questions cover topics such as texting and driving, seatbelt usage, pedestrian safety, and more. When our program is modified for community events, we use these questions in one-on-one interactions with booth visitors to educate the public.

Mock Sobriety Tests

As part of our high school events, we do a sobriety test demonstration with Fatal Vision drunk goggles. We use the walk and turn test, the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, and the one leg stand test. These three tests are standardized and if failed in a traffic stop will hold up in court as evidence of intoxication. They will be doing these tests with and without drunk goggles so they can see the difference and understand that these tests are not something that you can get around – which gives them more incentive to only drive when sober, which is a lesson that could stick with them all their lives.

Pedal Kart

Another fun and interactive activity we do with Fatal Vision drunk goggles utilizes a pedal kart. This activity is beloved by students and gives them a glimpse into the huge danger that is driving while under the influence. At schools, our team sets up a cone course and has each student drive through on the pedal kart once unimpaired, and again while wearing the drunk goggles. This activity both shows what a huge impairment of function being drunk is – as each cone could represent a pedestrian or other vehicle, and they tend to each hit a few on their second lap.

Reach out to Marissa Maurer, CTR Marketing Assistant and #GetConvinced Event Coordinator for more information or to schedule a free teen driver safety event at your school or community function.

mmaurer2@utk.edu