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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of |
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death for young people, claiming the lives of nearly 6,000 |
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teenagers annually, including some 500 in Texas alone; and |
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WHEREAS, For every teenager killed in a car crash, at least 50 |
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more are seriously injured, making teen driver accidents one of the |
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most urgent public safety and health crises facing our state and |
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nation; and |
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WHEREAS, It is widely recognized by experts that no single |
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solution can effectively reverse this trend; therefore, it is |
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essential for young people themselves to play an active and |
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productive role in improving roadway safety for all drivers and |
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passengers; and |
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WHEREAS, A growing number of Texas teenagers have dedicated |
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themselves to this important safety mission through their |
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involvement in the Teens in the Driver Seat program, which was |
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created by the Texas Transportation Institute and is sponsored by |
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the Texas Department of Transportation and State Farm Insurance; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, This creative effort, distinguished by its unique |
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peer-to-peer approach, is the first program of its kind in the |
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United States, and it has already reached more than 230 Texas |
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schools and nearly a quarter million young Texans through such |
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initiatives as the annual Driving the Message contest, which |
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encourages teens to speak up and save a life by addressing one of |
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the five main driving dangers for young people: driving at night, |
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speeding, engaging in such distractions as cell phone use and |
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texting, not wearing a seat belt, and drinking alcohol; the program |
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benefits from the leadership of its Teen Advisory Board and from the |
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support of its teacher-sponsors, known as Sponstars; and |
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WHEREAS, Teens in the Driver Seat is making a positive |
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difference in the effort to reduce the frequency of teen driving |
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fatalities in Texas, and it is indeed fitting to recognize this |
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innovative program; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor the Texas Transportation Institute's |
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Teens in the Driver Seat program and extend sincere best wishes for |
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continued success to all those associated with TDS, including the |
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charter members of the TDS Teen Advisory Board, the Driving the |
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Message contest winners, and the recipients of the TDS Sponstar |
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Awards; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Teens in the Driver Seat program as an expression |
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of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |
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Kolkhorst |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1765 was adopted by the House on May |
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4, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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