The State Attorney General is joining colleagues from other states to push an Ad Council campaign that seeks to make young drivers safer. The new campaign uses ads to try and convince teen passengers to speak up when their teenage friends are driving recklessly.
Bill Roach of the Attorney General’s office says they hope to cut down on the deaths of young drivers. Roach says about 100 16 to 24-year-old drivers die in traffic accidents each year in the state, and about 600 are seriously injured. Roach says 100 is about the size of a high school graduating class in many parts of the state, and they think they can make a difference by having teens talk to other teens. Roach says it’s not easy for teens to speak up and tell their friends when they’re driving in a way that can get everyone killed.
He says the adds give the teens permission to say something without seeming uncool by using humor and a "cheesy spokesperson." Roach says the campaign called " U-R the Spokesperson " is modeled after the "Friends don’t let Friends Drive Drunk" campaign. Roach says the adds will be distributed to TV and radio stations for use as public service announcements.