My PSA Contest

Arizona Bicyclists Not Allowed to Roll through Stops

admin — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 22:54:28 +0000

Today the Arizona House Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee voted against allowing cyclists to roll through stop signs when there is no traffic coming. Rep. Doug Quelland of Pheonix, an avid cyclist, supported the measure and even stood before the committee in his cycling gear when speaking about the importance of the measure. Quelland said that more cycling accidents are caused when cyclists have to start from a complete stop because they have less control.

Quelland also stated that Arizona law is confusing because while it requires cyclists to come to a complete halt at stop signs, it doesn’t specify what constitutes as complete stop. He argues that officers from the Tucson Police Department take this law too harshly and have ticketed cyclists $200 for not placing both feet on the ground before going through a stop sign.

Several other states, such as Idaho, allow cyclists to roll through stops if they don’t see any signs of traffic.

Alcohol Ads Influence How Much Viewers Drink

admin — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:29:45 +0000

A recent study found a link between television shows, movies, and ads that show alcohol and the amount of alcohol young men consume. Researchers asked 40 male students to watch either American Pie 2, which shows a lot of alcohol use, or 40 Days and 40 Nights, which shows little alcohol consumption. Each student was asked to bring a friend to the study, and each pair was placed in separate rooms with a couch, TV, snacks, and beverages that included beer, wine, and soft drinks.

The students who watched American Pie 2 drank 1.5 times more alcohol than the students who watched 40 Days and 40 Nights.

Researchers said possible reasons why the students who watched American Pie 2 drank more alcohol are that people tend to imitate one another’s behavior, and seeing actors drink could have influenced the students to drink more. Also, researchers said having friends around could influence the students’ drinking habits.

Maryland Underage Drunk Drivers May Face License Suspension

admin — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 23:01:06 +0000

Maryland lawmakers are considering a bill that would create harsher punishments for underage drinkers. Currently, Maryland’s law states that it’s illegal for teens to possess alcohol; however, if a teen has already consumed alcohol and doesn’t have a container, police can’t arrest that person.

Danielle Roeber with the National Transportation Safety Board says this weak law needs to be changed. She recommends adding a provision to the current law that results in the suspension of a teen’s driver license if he or she is caught driving while intoxicated.

Another bill currently under consideration asks that any adults who buys alcohol for a minor will be charged with a criminal offense.

How to Choose a Bicycle Helmet

admin — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:31:19 +0000

Check out the following video about choosing a safe bike helmet. Steve Madden, the editor of Bicycling Magazine, gives a great explanation about the different types of helmets and how you can determine the best helmet for your needs.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Don’t forget about our bicycle safety PSA contest in North Carolina. Click here to learn more.

HensonFuerst Announces PSA Contest

admin — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:54:54 +0000

My PSA Contest is excited to be teaming up with HensonFuerst in North Carolina to help host a video PSA contest about bicycle safety! The contest launched a few days ago and entries are due on Monday, April 13, 2009. All the details can be found at www.lawmed.com/contest. If anyone has questions, they’re welcome to email me at abbey@mypsacontest.com, just be sure to add my e-mail address your e-mail contact list so my reply doesn’t get lost in your junk folder.

Teen Paralyzed after Underage Drinking Party

admin — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:15:22 +0000

According to the Chicago Tribune, a 22-year-old man recently won a $2.5 million lawsuit stemming from an alcohol-related auto accident when he was 19. The man, who was paralyzed in the drunk driving accident, had been at a friends house drinking beer on the evening of the accident. The group of friends, who were all teenagers at the time, were drinking beer without the knowledge of the owner of the house.

Even though the owner of the house had not provided alcohol to the minor or had no knowledge of the underage drinking party, the jury said she should have been more aware of her daughters’ actions because they had been caught drinking on other occassions.

Impactful Video about Teen Drunk Driving

admin — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:41:49 +0000

The following video is incredibly impactful and makes a strong point about the devastating effect of teen drunk driving without saying a single word.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Rights and Duties of Cyclists Video

admin — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:20:37 +0000

The League of American Bicyclists posted the following video to help explain basic cycling safety rules. This video offers a unique perspective on cycling safety by showing a cyclist from both the front and back while he cycles around town demonstrating the proper ways to navigate through traffic.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Blog Offers Help and Advice about Underage Drinking to Teen Girls

admin — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:09:07 +0000

We recently came across the Girl Talk Web site and blog, which is devoted to offering help and advice to teen girls. Common topics discussed on the site include everything from making healthy lifestyle decisions and the dangers of underage drinking to world news and events and the latest on fashion and beauty. The site also features a page called Ask Katie that invites visitors to ask their own questions.

Why we really like this site:

It’s easy to use
When you ask a question, you get a quick answer
It truly has some great advice for teen girls

Click here to che ck out the site.

Underage Drinking Party Leads to Teen Deaths

admin — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 17:08:45 +0000

Last April two teen girls were killed in an alcohol related car accident after attending a party where alcohol was served. According to reports, the parents of the teen who hosted the party provided alcohol to the young guests. Reports suggest the parents had provided alcohol to minors at their house on several occasions.

The night of the fatal accident, the couple’s son, who was intoxicated, was driving the car that crashed, killing the teen girls. The driver and another passenger were injured in the alcohol related accident.

Currently, jury selection for the trial against the parents is underway.