Speak Up

I posted this on my facebook notes today, but I thought I should put it here too.

I'm doing a persuasive speech next week and thought I should share my statistics with you.

The topic is Reckless Teenage Driving: How to Prevent Death.

(For the purpose of my speech, reckless driving is defined as using excessive speed, drinking and driving, texting while driving, not wearing a seatbelt, being distracted, etc.)

Did you know that the leading cause of death in teenagers are car accidents? Not drugs, drinking, heart disease or cancer?

Car Accidents account for 1 in 3 teenage deaths yearly.

9 teens aged 16-19 died EVERY DAY in a car accident in the year 2008.

3500 teens are killed annually and another 350,000 are injured.

59% of teenage fatalities from car accidents occur when there are two or more teens in the car.

What can you do to save lives???

SPEAK UP!

Say something when your friend is driving too fast.

Tell them they can't drive home when they're been drinking.

Make them put their seatbelt on before you drive and before you allow them to drive.

Take their cell phone away until you arrive at your destination.

Remind the driver to pay attention to the road.

It's as easy as that.

If you speak up, they will listen.

I know from experience how much it hurts when someone you love loses their life in a car accident. I would have spoken up if I knew it would have saved his life. And I'm sure someone would have spoken up for Chelsea and Morgan if they knew what would happen if they didn't.

It's as easy as saying "stop". Just do it.