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Congratulations to Distress Bandanna on the passage of resolution #50 of the State of Illinois House of Representatives 104th General Assemebly.

This law insures that 133,000 driver education students will learn about stranded motorist protocols and laws like Scott's Law.  

Hey, I hope this message finds you well!  

My name is Arianna Smith and I am the Illinois Program Specialist for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). We are excited to offer your school communities an incredible opportunity: a free virtual "Power of Parents" workshop designed to empower parents and caregivers to have important conversations about underage alcohol use, recognize signs of substance abuse, and provide resources to help their children make safer, smarter choices. 

We would greatly appreciate your assistance in sharing this information with your district network. Attached is a flyer with all the workshop details, including the date, time, and meeting link. We kindly ask that you consider distributing it through your email lists, newsletters, social media and/or any other communication channels you use. 

By promoting this workshop, you’ll be helping families strengthen relationships and support their children in making responsible decisions. It's a simple step that can have a lasting positive impact. 

If you have any questions or would like to discuss additional virtual or in-person programs for youth and parents, please feel free to reach out to me. Thank you for your support in ending impaired driving. 

Best Regards,

Arianna Smith

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Distress Bandanna is proud to announce that our Senate Bill 2028, a life-saving law that protects stranded drivers on our roads, is now in effect. On page 90 of the 2024 Illinois Rules of the Road, you’ll find Stranded Motorists’ Safety Protocol. Until the paper 2024 book is published, you can access the new protocol on-line. This law, championed by Distress Bandanna and supported by Representative Stuart, Senator McClure, and Senator Murphy, aims to protect stranded drivers. It emphasizes best practices for staying safe while awaiting assistance. Stranded motorists face significant risks from various hazards, including distracted drivers, drowsy drivers, impaired drivers, and speeding vehicles. According to IDOT from 2019 to 2021, there were 456 crashes and 35 deaths involving stranded motorists in Illinois. However, this number likely underestimates the true impact because some incidents categorize stranded motorists as pedestrians when they are working on, pushing, leaving, or approaching their vehicles. Distress Bandanna is advocating for a new category for disabled-vehicle crashes at the national level. This initiative aims to further protect stranded motorists across the country.

Please join us to learn more about this project, sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), to enhance motorcycle awareness in education, licensing, and outreach. 
Two dates to choose from:
September 23, 2022
11 am - 12 pm EDT /10 - 11 am CDT/9 - 10 am MDT/8 - 9 am PDT/5 am - 6 am HST 
or 
September 26, 2022
3:30 - 4:30 pm EDT/2:30 - 3:30 pm CDT/1:30 - 2:30 pm MDT/12:30 - 1:30 pm PDT/9:30 am - 10:30 am HST

Beyond Driver Education Program

This program targets high school students preparing to drive or have recently received their driver's license. Teens learn about the dangers of impaired, reckless, and distracted driving, the impact of underage drinking and drug use on their developing brain and body, the effects of substance misuse, the importance of good decision-making, and essential traffic safety laws and regulations. Our program and topics can be modified to fit each school's class schedule.

The Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists (AAIM) is hosting our 5th Annual "Are You InTEXTicated?" PSA Contest! April is Distracted Driving Awareness month, and AAIM hosts this contest to promote safe driving habits. 

This year the contest is open to all Illinois High School students and a traffic safety award will be given to the student(s), youth group, or school that creates the greatest social impact. Each student or group will create a 30-second video to show the dangers of distracted driving that will be voted on by their peers.  

The awards this year are $750 for 1st place, $250 for 2nd place, and $100 for 3rd place. 

Please share this information with your students, colleagues, or any other partners that have teens that may be interested.  For the complete contest information, guidelines, and to see past year winners, please visit our website: 'InTEXTicated?' (aaim1.org)