Mission, Funding & Desired Outcome

SmartDrive is a concept conceived by Delmarva Broadcasting Company and other concerned individuals and organizations in the state of Delaware in response to the senseless and preventable loss of life among our teens in Delaware resulting from poor driving decisions and practices. The desired outcome for SmartDrive is for a significant number of young drivers to make the right decisions every time they are behind the wheel so they will never put themselves, their passengers or their vehicles in harm’s way.

These statistics based on recent driving performance by teen drivers clearly demonstrate the problem we face.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• 36% of all deaths in the 16-19 year old age group are due to fatal motor vehicle accidents.
• In 2005, 400,000 teens were treated in emergency rooms for injuries incurred in motor vehicle accidents
• In 2005, teens accounted for 10% of the population and 12% of the motor vehicle crash deaths.
• Among male drivers between 15 and 20 years of age who were involved in fatal crashes in 2005, 38% were speeding at the time of the crash and 24% had been drinking.
• In 2005, among teen drivers who were killed in motor vehicle crashes after drinking and driving, 74% were unrestrained.
• Persons aged 15 to 24, who represent only 14% of the U.S. population, account for 30% ($19 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among males and 28% ($7 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among females.

And, according to statistics gathered from various public safety agencies by TeenDrivingInfo.com:

• Annually, 7887 teens, aged 15-20 die in car crashes -- that is 22 fatalities daily. Of these, 2008 are 16-17 years old.
• Crash rates are the highest during the first 6 months and 1,000 miles of licensure.
• While on a test track 100% of experienced adult drivers were able to stop at a red light when approaching an intersection while talking on a cell phone. ONLY 33% of inexperienced teen drivers were able to stop at the same intersection while distracted by talking on a cell phone.

In order to achieve this mission, SmartDrive delivers a compelling message, a fun interactive approach, consistent application over time and significant incentives. The heart of the program is an online instructional program that is available to all high school students regionally. The program is administered by SmartDrive with assistance from school administrators and faculty, and other concerned public safety officials and educators from the public and private sectors in Delaware.

Students complete three monthly “modules” that include objective true and false, multiple choice and essay questions presented in an entertaining and challenging multimedia format. Students accumulate points as they complete the various sections. An essential part of this program is active parental involvement with their young drivers, so it is strongly suggested parents participate, and in doing so their children can earn bonus points toward the incentives. The state of Delaware has been separated into two regions: “North” and “South”, and for 2007-2008 a Pennsylvania-Maryland region has been added. The winning student in each region in each school year receives a $4,000 post-secondary scholarship. Other students receive other cash and merchandise prizes. The three (3) schools with the highest percentage of participation in each region will win cash awards to be used for prom-related expenses.

As SmartDrive enters its third full year of operation, the program currently operates in 42 of the state’s 52 schools, public and private, and in several schools in Pennsylvania and Maryland. In 2006-2007 approximately 2,000 students participated. The goal going forward is to operate the program in all of Delaware’s schools and to expand operation in other states where appropriate.

SmartDrive is funded primarily through contributions from Delmarva Broadcasting Company and other commercial organizations. As a tax exempt organization, SmartDrive accepts additional funding from other public and private funding organizations at all levels that will support further expansion of program benefits to its existing users and facilitate expansion to additional communities. There is one paid employee, Corporation Secretary and Program Coordinator Karen Busby. All others work on a volunteer basis on their own or through time granted by their employers.


Leadership

Board of Directors
Chair:
Julian H. Booker - President/CEO, Delmarva Broadcasting Company

Members:
Honorable M. Jane Brady - Judge, Superior Court, State of Delaware
Steven R. Cebulka - William Penn High School

Officers

President		Julian H. Booker
Secretary & Program Coordinator		Karen Busby
Treasurer		Sally Voltz

Grading & Selection Committee
Karen Busby, Moderator
Donna Hardy, Wilmington College
Cpl. Jeffery Weaver, Delaware State Police
Kathy Ward, YMCA Resource Center/Delaware SADD-YELL Coordinator

Curriculum Advisory Committee
Julian H. Booker, Moderator
Karen Busby, Program Coordinator
Karen Dickens, Driver Education Teacher
Harry Roosevelt, Executive Director, Delaware Safety Council
Andrea Doyle, Driver Education Teacher
Steven R. Cebulka, Driver Education Teacher