High school parking lot a focus of Parachute’s Project Gearshift

(FREDERICTON), Sept. 4, 2013. As students go back to school this week, a group at Leo Hayes High School in Fredericton has a message for their peers. Student ambassadors for Parachute’s national Project Gearshift campaign are leading the teen driver safety cause at their school. With youth drivers making up only 13% of licensed drivers, but approximately one-quarter of the driver injuries and fatalities on the road, these students are working to change the statistics.

Project Gearshift representatives have been busy retrofitting the student parking lot at Leo Hayes High School with chalk messaging, inviting sober drivers to park in certain spots, while other spots remind drivers “the front seat is a phone free zone.” This is an example of the peer leadership activities available on www.projectgearshift.ca, allowing students to take part in this national campaign. The art installation will be in place for student arrival on Friday morning, Sept. 6, at 8:30 am.

About Project Gearshift

Project Gearshift is a project of Parachute, a national injury prevention organization. Project Gearshift aims to increase knowledge around teen driver issues while inspiring action and change. This fall, youth, teachers and community members are leading activities to create shifts in thinking and behaviour. Parachute will be hosting Canada’s first ever National Teen Driver Safety Week, Oct. 20-26, to raise awareness around the issue and increase national support. For more information, visit www.projectgearshift.ca.

About Parachute

Parachute is a national, charitable organization dedicated to preventing injuries and saving lives. Parachute officially came into being in July 2012 and unites the former organizations of Safe Communities Canada, Safe Kids Canada, SMARTRISK and ThinkFirst Canada into one leader in injury prevention. Parachute’s injury prevention solutions, knowledge mobilization, public policy, and social awareness efforts are designed to help Canadians reduce their risks of injury while achieving Parachute’s vision of an injury-free Canada where Canadians enjoy long lives lived to the fullest. For more information, visit www.parachutecanada.org.

All media interested in attending should contact Alex Kelly, Parachute, at akelly@parachutecanada.org to arrange for interviews with students.

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