POLICE AVAILABLE TO SCHOOLS, GROUPS
Citizens who wish to learn more about teen driving and underage drinking can arrange a visit by a Montgomery County Police officer. Contact the Special Operations Division at 301-840-2881.
In October, Montgomery County Police kicked off a program entitled “Parents Who Host Lose the Most: Don’t Be a Party to Teenage Drinking.” The program aims to curb the practice of hosting underage drinking parties and dispel the myth that doing so provides a “safe” environment for the dangerous activity of underage drinking. Through the program’s 24-hour hotline, citizens can report underage drinking parties and obtain information on hosting alcohol-free events for teens. The hotline number is 301-670-SAFE.
COMCAST AIRS PSAs
Comcast Cable has begun to air a series of public service announcements on teen driving featuring the families and friends of accident victims killed in Montgomery County. The series of seven 30-secod announcements is titled "Drive, Think, Live," and began to air on Dec. 20. The spots will air on various channels during the next six months.
Comcast donated airtime for the spots, which come during the holiday season when young people are on the roads during holiday breaks. It also donated 50,000 bracelets embossed with the campaign slogan to Montgomery County Public Schools.
To view the public service announcements, visit www.waganer.com/Mother_01.wmv, www.waganer.com/FamilyFriends_01.wmv, www.waganer.com/Buddy_01.wmv, www.waganer.com/Drinking_01.wmv, www.waganer.com/Parents_01.wmv, www.waganer.com/Teens_01.wmv.
PLANNING FOR TEEN DRIVING
The Parent Encouragement Program, an independent, non-profit organization, is planning several programs in response to the recent rash of teen driving accidents.
On Thursday, Jan. 27, the program will conduct a “Safe Teen Driving” forum for parents and teens. Montgomery County Police Chief J. Thomas Manger will join Allen Williams of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Bruce Simons-Morton of the National Institutes of Health and Bill Combs of the National Safety Council in discussing how parents and teens can work together to reduce teens risk of accidents.
Tickets are required: $15 per adult, $25 per couple, $5 per teen or a maximum of $30 per family. The forum will be at the North Bethesda Mariott Hotel and Conference Center, 5701 Marinelli Road.
A separate two-session course for parents (with or without their teenages 14 and up) is being offered in March. Learn how and why accidents happen and how families can work together to avoid them. Learn what parents need to do to successfully involve teens in planning for a safe start to driving.
Wednesdays March 9 and 16, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Registration is required.
Contact the Parent Encouragement Program: 301-929-8824 or pepoffice@aol.com. Visit www.parentencouragement.com.
MCCPTA TO ADDRESS TEEN DRIVING
The Montgomery County Council of Parent Teacher Associations will hold a Jan. 25 delegates assembly to address teen driving safety. The assembly will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Carver Educational Services Center, room 123, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville. The meeting is open to all community members.