Latest news with #YOVASO
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Yahoo
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month; how YOVASO helps to educate teen drivers
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – April is Distracted Driving Awareness month, just in time for the upcoming prom season, and the Youth of Virginia Speak out About Traffic Safety, YOVASO, tells WFXR that from 2023 to 2024, deadly accidents involving teens were up 15%. YOVASO says between 2021 and 2023, crashes claimed the lives of 169 drivers aged 15 to 19. As prom and graduation season approaches, YOVASO says this is one of the most dangerous times for teens on the road. 'I think teens believe that they're invincible, that they're young, you know, they're going to live forever and a long time,' said Mary King, the YOVASO program manager. 'This does happen. It can happen to me. It can happen to my friend. If I make a bad choice, it could ruin the rest of my life or someone else's life.' 19-year-old motorcyclist dies in crash in Radford YOVASO also says that of those teens killed, 58% were not wearing seatbelts, however, the organization is hopeful that a new law requiring everyone in the car to wear a seatbelt, no matter the age, or where they sit, will help. That law takes effect in July. 'Cars are basically 2,000 or 3,000 pound missiles and manufacturers do a really good job at trying to protect the occupants of that vehicle, but, they can only do so much,' said Rick Garletts, the Public Information Officer for the sixth division of the Virginia State Police, 'The driver is is the one that is responsible for protecting everybody in that vehicle, and as long as we put the stuff down that takes our attention away from operating that vehicle, the better off we're going to be.' YOVASO works alongside multiple schools in the Commonwealth to help bring awareness to distracted and impaired driving, focusing on that peer-to-peer relationship. Three killed in single-vehicle crash in Botetourt County 'It's very important that teens remind each other to be safe. We want teens to look at it as the cool thing to do. The cool thing to do is to obey the speed limits. Put your seatbelt on, put away that phone, and be careful because you don't want to be responsible for hurting someone else in your car or someone else on the roadway or for hurting yourself, and your parents really want you to make it home safely,' said King. At William Byrd High School (WBHS), one of the student-run groups that works alongside YOVASO will host a mock car accident on April 28th at 6 p.m. in front of the school to continue to raise awareness for impaired driving. YOVASO is preparing for its annual summer retreat for students from rising 9th graders to graduating seniors, teachers, resource officers, and youth community groups. The four-day weekend will teach more about safe driving. You can register and learn more here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Remarkable Women: Meet Mary King, YOVASO Program Director
SALEM, Va. (WFXR) – Southwest and Central Virginia are filled with remarkable women, and we're introducing you to some during March during Nexstar's Remarkable Women contest. Mary King is one of the four finalists in the contest. King is dedicated to teenagers and safety and has used innovative ways to keep the non-profit Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety, also known as YOVASO, running for more than twenty years. Her passion motivates the younger generations to keep the program going for years. YOVASO isn't just a school club; it's a way for teens to help each other avoid tragic mistakes. Remarkable Women: Meet Pamela Irvine, the woman behind Feeding Southwest Virginia 'Having teens find their voice so that they can remind each other to drive safely, to be safe passengers, to make good decisions when behind the wheel,' shares Mary King, Program Manager for YOVASO. Helping teens find confidence is a key factor in Mary King's success. 'We're all shy when we start YOVASO,' shares Kendall Lythgoe, Former YOVASO member. 'She forces you to get out of your comfort zone.' 'The thing that I love most about this program is seeing young people find their voice and become leaders,' says King. She learned this lesson in leadership from her former supervisor, Steve Goodwin, who started YOVASO in 2001. 'My supervisor was very passionate about the subject, particularly not highway safety in general, but specifically teens and keeping them safe on the roadways,' says King. She continued his legacy when Steve died and took it to new heights. More 'Remarkable Women' stories on 'When this program first started, the state was losing about 178 teens a year in motor vehicle crashes,' shares King. 'We've now brought that number down to like the mid-70s.' How? 'She took the initiative to apply for that grant every year,' shares Casey Taylor, Program Development Coordinator for YOVASO. 'She secures $70,000 plus yearly to fund this simulator program.' (Courtesy: YOVASO) The simulator program is a creative way Mary found for teenagers to experience firsthand the dangers of distracted and impaired driving. It is all within a controlled environment, with help from the Virginia State Police. 'Our goal is to reduce those crashes, injuries, and fatalities and save young lives,' says King. While taking the initiative to keep YOVASO engaging for teens, those who work closely with Mary say her energy keeps everything—and everyone—going strong. 'She has a teenager's heart. She's just so much fun to be around all the time,' says Lythgoe. 'So it's not hard to connect with her no matter your age.' 'She is the most fun-loving person, but she is also very organized and motivated to change lives in the area,' shares Sydney Dills, Former YOVASO member. I really enjoy working with young people. I enjoy the part of it, I feel like it keeps me young and I get a lot of, energy from working around young people.' Mary King Manager for Yovaso While maintaining a balance of work and play, her strong determination to advocate for safe teen driving and uplift those around her will always be her mission. 'I know in my heart that what we've done all these years has made a huge difference, saving lives and developing leaders for the future. Young people who will go on and do great things' says King. King's goal is to see the YOVASO in every middle and high school in Virginia. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
