Erie County Clerk
Teen Driving Laws

From the desk of County Clerk Kathy Hochul

"Save A Friend's Life" Competition to Increase Safety Awareness for Teenage Drivers

I have been in touch with the New York State Department of Health-Bureau of Injury Prevention Department seeking ways to assist parents get more information on teen driving and how we all as a community can make the roads safer. I'm happy to report to you that their office will soon provide Erie County with "Teen Passenger Survival Tips, a teen driving safety guide and a fact sheet to help educate the public. Once we're in receipt of this information we'll post it along with the teen driving laws posted on our website, www.erie.gov/clerk.
As your Erie County Clerk, in charge of 12 auto Bureau outlets in Erie County, I am also seeking new partners to assist me in educating motorists, parents and teen drivers. I have also reached out to the New York State Association of Traffic Safety Boards, and this Fall, Erie County will participate in the "Save Your Friend's Life" -- a statewide competition for teens sponsored by the Traffic Safety State Boards. This contest targets high school students and groups addressing teen driving safety issues. It is well known that vehicle crashes are the second leading cause of death among New York State teens, and this contest will increase teen awareness of the leading risk factors associated with motor vehicle accidents and identify radio messages to encourage their peers to travel safely.

I support this idea because young people learn from each other, and they will carry a positive message to their peers through this exercise. Now is time to get on board, I know there are school districts, community groups and businesses who are concerned about the safety of our young people. I've expanded the competition in Erie County to include video Public Service Announcements that will be submitted to local television stations and public access stations. I'll have more information on the "Save Your Friend Over the Airwaves" Contest in the near future. Help us spread the word to get teens to participate in a competition that just may save a life.