PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
In 1994, 11.1 percent of Hawaii's impaired driving crash fatalities were teenagers 15 to 19 years old. There is general agreement among professionals in the field of education that programs discouraging drinking and driving presented in schools will eventually produce a citizenry that is well-informed about the adverse effects of alcohol, and so will be able to use alcohol responsibly. Hawaii Department of Education officials recognized the need for a youth traffic safety coordinator who could identify and incorporate activities into the public school system that addressed traffic safety issues such as alcohol misuse. However, since funding to create this position was not available, the Department of Education designated a Youth Traffic Safety Teacher for the 1995-1996 school year.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The goal of the Youth Traffic Safety Teacher program was to eliminate alcohol- and drug-related injuries and fatalities to high school students, especially during the prom/ graduation period. Specific objectives of the project were to train students on how to plan and conduct school safety assemblies and campaigns targeting students and parents.

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
The Hawaii Department of Education's designated Youth Traffic Safety Resource Teacher was assigned to provide traffic safety education materials to teachers and students in grades K-12. Activities used to address the problem of underage impaired driving in high school students included:

• Providing student and parent Traffic Safety and Project Prom/Graduation Training conferences to address the issue of impaired driving among high school students and to support alcohol- and drug-free social activities. In 1996, six training conferences were attended by over 350 teens and nearly 250 parents. At the parent conferences, local vendors who supported the Project Prom/Graduation set up exhibit booths and provided prizes and other giveaways to parents and students in attendance
• Implementing Project Prom/Graduation at local public and private high schools. This program provides drug-free events after proms and graduation ceremonies. In 1996, three high schools conducted Project Prom events and 37 high schools conducted Project Graduation. It is estimated about 5,000 seniors and over 1,000 parents participated. In 1996, four radio stations obtained corporate sponsors and conducted a radio public service announcement (PSA) campaign. In 1997, seven radio stations participated, broadcasting more than 660 PSAs between April and June
• Initiating a "Strides for Safety" campaign in area high schools. This program is directed by students, and addresses traffic safety issues such as "zero tolerance" laws and injury prevention. In 1996, three events were held on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii. In 197, seven events were held on Oahu and Hawaii. A total of 2,100 teens were reached in 1997 as compared to 300 in 1996
• Developing student safety teams to man traffic safety booths at area fairs and conferences, and distribute traffic safety educational materials to students and parents. In 1996, students participated in 8 fairs and distributed over 3,700 sets of materials
• Developing teen traffic safety teams in area high schools to conduct campaigns for their peers and community. Events included injury and DUI assemblies, distribution of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) red ribbons and Christmas safety messages to students and faculty, waving signs to passing motorists urging the use of seat belts and sober driving, and mock crashes and funerals