~~A driver’s license represents considerable freedom to a young person.  Parents, too, may eagerly look forward to the additional help a teen driver provides to an American household.  In addition, mobility is an important factor for today’s teens as well as a key factor in the economic and social growth of our country.  Teens view this mobility as evidence of becoming adults. Unfortunately, these freedoms and conveniences come at a high price, which continues to be paid via traffic-related fatalities, life-altering injuries, and economic costs.  In Boone County 46% of DUI arrests are in the age category 16-21. In 2015 Boone County Sheriff’s Department reported there were 1,976 crashes based on driver’s aged 16-24. Crashes continue to be the leading cause of death among American teens, accounting for more than one third of all deaths of 16 to 19 year olds. The good news is parental involvement, community involvement and education can have a major influence over the teen’s behavior. As a result the Boone Co. Cooperative Extension Service, the Boone Co. Sheriff’s Department, and the Hebron Fire Department partnered to present “Boone Co. Teens on Wheels safety program”.  This 5-hour educational program was offered to youth age 15-19 and they were required to be accompanied by an adult.  Educational booths, mock crash, defensive driving seminar, obstacle course with fatal vision goggles, driving simulator and mock trial were part of the event.  Over 408 teens, in addition to parents, have participated in the program since the conception.  Nineteen different community agencies along with over 50 volunteers have come together to put on this community event. Eight weeks after the most recent program, a written survey was sent to the participants to see if the program had impact. From the surveys returned 100% of the responders stated they always where their seatbelt while in a vehicle as a result of attending the program.  One participated stated they learned “how distractions danger you and other people.”  One parent reported “As a father of a soon to be driving teen, this program reminded me that my child is watching me.”  Another parent testified “None of my kids has any desire to drink (even the 21 year old) and they said this program is one of the reasons.”