Full Notification

MERIDIAN POLICE DEPARTMENT
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 24, 2023
 
CONTACT: Kelsey Winnett, Public Information Officer
 

MERIDIAN- As summer heats up, so does danger on the roads. The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is often referred to as the "100 deadliest days of summer," due to the increase in fatality and injury crashes amongst teens. With school letting out, the Meridian Police Department would like to encourage all teens to prioritize safe driving practices.
 
Since 2017, seventy-four percent (74%) of injury and fatality accidents in Meridian have been caused by distracted driving. In 2022, thirty-seven percent (37%) of distracted driving incidents were caused by cell phones. To combat this alarming trend, the Meridian Police Department is once again partnering with surrounding agencies to participate in a summer-long campaign to promote safe driving habits. The mobilization is funded through a grant awarded by the Office of Highway Safety and the Idaho Department of Transportation.
 
"We want to encourage all young drivers to prioritize safety on the road," said School Resource Officer Sergeant Morgan Carter. "By following basic safe driving practices, we can reduce the number of accidents and fatalities among teenage drivers."

Sergeant Carter also recommends that parents and guardians discuss safe driving habits with their teens, set clear expectations, and lead by example. Important topics to cover include:

• Teen Passengers
• Nighttime Driving
• Seat Belt Use
• Distracted Driving
• Reckless Driving
• Impaired Driving

More information on these topics can be found through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.   
 
For parents seeking additional resources to help their teen drivers, Meridian Police Department offers a four and a half (4.5) hour course for ages 14-24 as part of their Alive at 25 Program.  Alive at 25 (AA25) is a survival course developed by the National Safety Council (NSC) and is designed to prevent the number one killer of teens, automobile crashes.
 
Taught by Meridian Police Officers, this course focuses on the behaviors and decision-making young drivers and passengers display behind the wheel.  Instructors hold candid conversations with students about what can happen if they practice risky behavior or make other poor decisions in an automobile.To learn more or to register, visit  www.idsafedriver.org. The Meridian Police Department’s mission is to provide the highest quality service in partnership with the community to preserve and protect life and property through education, prevention and enforcement.  The department has 143 police officers and 43 non-sworn staff dedicated to making Meridian a great place to live, work and raise a family.