KIWANIS
Magazine

January 2003

Road safety drives Kiwanian

Andy Gaudet, the 2001-02 president of the Kiwanis Club of Hamilton East, Ontario, Canada, is actively advancing a program launched earlier this year. The I Promise Program reinforces parents as role models of responsible driving behavior in the effort to reduce the risk of teen-related car crashes.

Teen-driving car accidents are the number one cause of permanent injury and death in teens across North America. This prompted Andy’s involvement in the safe-driving initiative for families with young drivers.

Gary Direnfeld, a social worker who develops and directs brain injury rehabilitation services for young persons who acquire brain injuries in car crashes, approached Andy about the program’s concept. Andy immediately coined the name I Promise Program and thus the program was conceived. The relationship with Kiwanis is an integral component to the development and implementation of the program.

"I have been involved with the I Promise Program from the beginning. Gary used me as a resource from the first draft of the contract to the launch in January 2002.

"Once Gary had a complete program set up I introduced him to my club," Andy explains. "The program was welcomed with tremendous enthusiasm followed by a motion from the floor to take this opportunity to the division caucus. Why stop there I said. Let’s try and take this to Kiwanis International."

Parents and youth discuss, negotiate, and complete the mutual safe-driving contract—a comprehensive agreement developed by youth, parents and community members. Contract items include: I promise to drive sober, I promise to wear my seat belt, I promise to drive defensively, and I promise to keep my mind on the road.

The program includes a safe-driving contract, a one-year community monitoring service, and a rear-window decal that lists a professional call center’s toll-free number. The community reports driver behavior and the call center sends a letter to the parents to address the report with their teenager.

"The program does not only report on teen driving. The date and time may prove that mom or dad was driving. The I Promise Program holds everyone accountable," Andy says. "There are penalties for the parents as well, which they decide when signing the mutual contract."

Andy’s efforts have created awareness of the program within Kiwanis across Eastern Canada and throughout the Caribbean with plans to reach communities worldwide.

"Through the I Promise Program, we want to save lives by serving the children of the world," Andy says.

Participation is easy. Any Kiwanis club can request by e-mail, a personalized club mail-in order form to print, photocopy and distribute in the community. The club is registered for participation in the program, which allows the club to earn $3 for members that sign up for the $45 program. The district receives $2.

"There are approximately 2.5 million new drivers annually in North America giving this the potential to be a significant fund-raising opportunity," Andy says.

Andy adds, "Insurance agents and brokers have direct contact with parents the moment they add their teen to their policy. Kiwanis clubs should strike up relationships with agents to promote the program and Kiwanis."

To view the parent/youth contract, letters of support and news articles visit www.ipromiseprogram.com .

Contact Information:

Gary Direnfeld, MSW, Executive Director
I Promise Program
20 Suter Crescent,
Dundas, Ontario, Canada
L9H 6R5

(905) 628-4847
gary123@sympatico.ca
www.ipromiseprogram.com