Teen Traffic Voices

High School Activity

TDS student leaders are encouraged to highlight the good work they are doing in their community and raise awareness for traffic safety in the media. Teen Traffic Voices is an activity that guides you to do just that – produce good public relations (PR) for your school or organization. There are different PR methods such as traditional news media interviews, news blogs, print news, and online forums (i.e. social media) or websites accessed by the public. Below is guidance on how to use your voice to advocate/advance traffic safety and be rewarded for it through TDS All-Stars.

Items Needed

TDS talking points and boiler information
Crash or teen behavior information or data to support your mission (i.e. Zero Hero data, national data, local data).
Organization or activity information (what you did or what you’re highlighting).
Computer or internet
REQUIRED – All teens who are working on this project must have parents complete a photo and video release form: https://www.t-driver.com/releaseform/

Steps

Here is a list of positive PR topics you can cover through various media channels and in partnership with your peers or community partners

Highlight a campus traffic safety fair, making sure to collect photos and quotes from peers to talk about their experience.
Recognize being a TDS All-Star school, highlighting the various activities you did to raise awareness about traffic safety.
Recognize winners of a TDS contest like Driving the Message Contest.
Highlight having a speaker visit your school to give a presentation on traffic safety.
Highlight any other accomplishments you did in collaboration with Teens in the Driver Seat to raise awareness for traffic safety – like Extra Mile or Teen Advisory Board members.

Steps

The following steps are suggestions on how to produce positive PR across various news/media channels.

News Media Interview

Research your local news media outlet and find their Contact Page.
Email or submit a form letting them know what you’re doing and request to be featured on their news channel.
If invited to be interviewed, prepare, write down talking points, discuss with your advisor, and practice media interviewing with TDS staff.

Tip: Wear your TDS t-shirt or polo and have some video or photos to share with the news media contact to use on TV.

Social Media

Use your school’s social media or reach out to a local journalist to highlight your school’s accomplishments.
Prepare supportive content for social media to tell your story, for example describe the problem, how you’re addressing it, and a call to action.
Make the ask to your administrations communications personnel or journalist to use your content and create a post about your team’s work and accomplishments.

Tip: Social media journalists may request an interview, so prepare similar talking points and prepare to talk about your team’s work in Teens in the Driver Seat.

Print/Online Story or Blog

Draft a story highlighting your accomplishments or events.
Have your story proofread by peers and your advisor.
Research your local news media or school communications personnel who could help publish the story.

Tip: Some ways to make your story stand out include having a quote from a peer, providing photos, and writing clean and concise for an adult/parent audience.

Don’t Forget

Mention Teens in the Driver Seat whether in interviews, social media, or print. This ensures you’ll get credit towards TDS All-Stars.

For more support, check out this document: TDS Talking Points and Tips

Make it GREAT

If an event involves other partners like State Farm or MADD, loop them into your public relations. Sometimes they even have media contacts you can use.
Frame your stories/interview by first talking about the problem, how you’re addressing it, and give the audience/viewers a call to action like “always buckle your seat belts” or remind them they are modeling behavior for the next generation of drivers.
Partner up with your school’s audio/visual club or communications class. Maybe they can help and satisfy a project at the same time.