PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Circuit Court hosts Drive Wise . . .Stay Alive Teen Symposium at Proviso East

Released On 05/15/2002

Maywood, IL (05-15-02) – The Circuit Court of Cook County continued its prom season driving safety programs with the hosting of "Drive Wise…Stay Alive" Teen Symposium held on May 15, 2002, at Proviso West High School in Hillside, Illinois. The symposium was organized by the court's Community Safety Initiative and is designed to help teens make appropriate decisions when faced with the choice to drive when under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans said, "Annual pre-prom programs are part of the court's commitment to challenge students to drive safely. These programs provide vivid and heart-wrenching proof of the permanent consequences of reckless driving decisions."

The symposium at Proviso featured three presentations and a viewing of the court's video Deadly Decisions. Speakers included Mawi Asgedom who delivered a motivational presentation based on his success as a Harvard University scholar despite his loss of several family members in a tragic crash, and another crash victim who is also a peer educator from the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. The Rehabilitation Institute also presented its Think First workshop which teaches teens how to prevent brain and spinal cord injury while traveling in a motor vehicle.

Produced and written by the Circuit Court of Cook County, the video "Deadly Decisions" utilizing a youthful MTV-like format to present the consequences of unsafe driving without preaching or using a condescending tone. "In the video, three teen reporters lead a discussion on aggressive driving with young motorists examining ways it can impact lives and how to avoid potential consequences," according to Judge Patrick E. McGann, Chairperson of the Circuit Court of Cook County Community Safety Initiative.

"Drive Wise…Stay Alive" Teen Symposium was funded by a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through the Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Traffic Safety.