Michigan Traffic Safety Summit to Feature Emerging Issues including Distracted and Marijuana-Impaired Driving
Issued: March 25, 2013
Two Michigan women will share personal stories of loss and their dedication to spread the word about the dangers of distracted driving as part of this week's Michigan Traffic Safety Summit. Laurel Zimmerman of Oakland Township and Bonnie Raffaele of Sault Ste. Marie will talk about their daughters Wednesday afternoon in a session titled "Ally and Kelsey: Lives Cut Short by Distracted Driving."
Raffaele recently spearheaded efforts to pass Kelsey's law, making it illegal for newly licensed teens, those with Level 1 and Level 2 licenses, to use a cell phone while driving.
The three-day event, Tuesday through Thursday at Michigan State University's Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, will bring together more than 400 people focused on programs and practices designed to make roads and driving safer. The summit is sponsored by the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) and is largely supported by federal traffic safety funds.
"The summit offers the opportunity for participants to learn from local, state and national experts as well as network with traffic safety professionals," said Michael L. Prince, OHSP director. "The state's traffic safety community is continually seeking ways to make roads safer for all users."
General sessions include: The Foundation for Success: Ethics with Undersheriff Chris Swanson, Genesee County Sheriff's Office; Rethinking Strategies on Marijuana Use with Kevin A. Sabet, Ph.D., director, Drug Policy Institute, University of Florida; Curbing Teen Driver Crashes with Pam Fischer, Principal, Pam Fischer Consulting, Long Valley, NJ; and Emergency Medical Services: Engaging the System that Saves Lives 101 with Dia Gainor, executive director, National Association of State Emergency Medical Services Officials.
Although marijuana is the illicit drug most-commonly used by Americans, its dangers are not well understood. Sabet will discuss the issue of marijuana today, focusing on the science around the dangers of the drug. Fisher will provide an overview of what is being done in other states to address teen driver safety, including strengthening Graduated Driver License laws, ensuring law enforcement support for these laws, engaging parents and teens, improving driver education and garnering consistent media coverage.
In addition to general sessions, the summit will include 28 workshops that will cover driving on drugs, bike safety initiatives, enhancing intersection safety, General Motors front center air bag and Wi-Fi direct in-vehicle detection technology, safe senior driving and the science behind crash test dummies.
The summit begins 9 a.m. Tuesday and runs through 11:45 a.m. Thursday. A complete list of sessions, descriptions, times and locations is at www.michigan.gov/ohsp.
