Illinois is making headlines again when it comes to teen driving safety! Our Chicago car accident attorneys would like to congratulate Illinois resident Judy Webber-Jones for being one of the winners of the National Safety Council‘s (NSC) 3rd Annual Teen Driving Safety Leadership Award.
This award is supported by safe driving advocates around the county, the NSC and the General Motors Foundation. The leadership award was presented to supplement National Teen Driver Safety Week, which takes place every year in October.This award is presented to those who the NSC feels dedicate their time to reducing the risks of teen car accidents in Chicago and elsewhere and to saving lives on our roadways. Car accidents continue to be the number one killer of teens in the U.S. This cause of death takes more lives than the next three top killers combined for that young age group.
The NSC also awarded Kaylen Larson from Minnesota with this prestigious award.
“They have worked in ways that NSC believes have the strongest impact, such as engaging with elected officials and educating teens about the benefits of Graduated Driver Licensing – a method proven to reduce teen driver crashes,” said Janet Froetscher, president and CEO of the National Safety Council.
Weber-Jones knows much about the dangers that these young drivers face on our roadways. She was a driver’s education teacher for over 25 years. She was recognized for her creation of a safety campaign that helped teens in the area and around the country to learn beneficial and lifesaving driving skills. That’s not all though. Judy was also able to get a bill passed in Illinois that prohibits all drivers from using any kind of cell phone in a construction or in a schools zone.
Judy was able to increase fines for drivers who were busted speeding. For nearly three years she works alongside Rep. Bill Black and Gloria and Chuck Wilhelm to pass Matt’s Law. This is a law that was created for Wilhelm’s son who was killed in a car accident with a distracted driver. Matt’s Law prohibits drivers from text massaging behind the wheel in Illinois. She also conducts seminars and lectures about safe driving habits.
Organizations Judy has worked with to help push safe driving habits:
-Andy Pilgrim Foundation
-Illinois Teen Safe Driving coalition
-Shriners Hospitals for Children
-State Farm Foundation
-The Allstate Foundation
-Illinois Department of Transportation
-Illinois Secretary of State’s office
-Families Against Chronic Excessive Speed
Teen drivers are at serious risks for car accidents because of their driving inexperience. Providing young drivers with a thorough driving education is one of the best tools we can deploy to keep them safe on our roadways.
Both of the winners will be recognized and presented with their awards during the NSC Defensive Driving Awards Banquet. This event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 29th in Philadelphia.
If you or your teen driver has been injured in a car accident, the personal injury attorneys and wrongful death lawyers at Abels & Annes offer free and confidential appointments to discuss your rights. Call (866) 99-ABELS. There is no fee unless you win.
More Blog Entries:
AAA Studies Teen Driver Risks to help Reduce Risks of Car Accidents in Illinois, Nation, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, October 20, 2011
GDL Program Risks for Car Accidents in Illinois for Graduated Drivers?, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, October 2, 2011