Be In The Zone (BITZ), a teen driver safety program at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, teaches students that any distraction can not only be dangerous, but deadly.
It’s a message that stuck with Claci Ayers, MD, assistant professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine at Monroe Carell, since her first introduction to the BITZ program 15 years ago as a participant in STriVe, the summer teen volunteer program at Monroe Carell.
“It was during the last week of the volunteer program when we did an injury prevention session,” recalled Ayers. “We were each assigned an injury and spent time in the trauma bay in the emergency department, and that really brought reality to what happens when you are distracted.
“When we saw the true consequences, the realness of that changed everything. Be In The Zone was very impactful, even then,” said Ayers. “And today, I see it in my work. The lessons they are teaching are good habits to start when you first start driving.”
Research has found that dialing a phone number while driving increases a teen’s risk of crashing by six times, and texting while driving increases the risk by 23 times.
The Trauma Injury Prevention Program at Monroe Carell is a nationally recognized program with a focus on reducing traumatic injuries among children and promoting safe driving behaviors.
“Be In The Zone is geared toward high schools in the region and aims to reduce the growing problem of teen driver crashes,” said Amber Sexton, associate program manager for BITZ. “The program encourages peer-to-peer education on safe driving initiatives with an emphasis on distracted driving.
“These students are determined to make an impact through various awareness campaigns and hands-on learning at their schools to help change behavior among young drivers and make a difference in their communities.”
According to Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security data from 2023, drivers ages 16-24 have the highest percentage of driving distracted crash rate, and motor vehicle crashes remain the leading preventable cause of death for teens (ages 15-19).
Nine schools signed up to participate in this year’s program, which receives funding from a Nissan Neighbors grant.
“At Nissan, safety is more than a feature — it’s a responsibility. Empowering teens to educate and inspire their peers is an effective strategy to promote and encourage safe driving habits,” said Ali Tonn, senior manager, philanthropy, Nissan North America. “Be In The Zone is designed to engage young drivers as leaders, equipping them with the tools to teach others about the importance of focus, responsibility and smart decision-making behind the wheel. We are proud to partner with Monroe Carell to build a culture of safety that starts with youth and spreads throughout our community.”
The program included a daylong event at Monroe Carell where students experienced a mock trauma simulation in the ED.
Participants shared that there is always a need for safe driving promotion and that their ability to reinforce ways to improve good driving habits at their schools, with their peers and throughout their communities helps them “increase our chances of saving even just one life, which is significant.”
To learn more about injury prevention programs, resources, events and classes at Monroe Carell visit https://www.vumc.org/injuryprevention/about-our-program.
