West Bend Provides a Silver Lining.

National Teen Driver Safety Week

October 21 – 27 is National Teen Driver Safety Week (NTDSW). After several tragic car crashes involving Pennsylvania high school students, Congressman Charlie Dent (R- PA), Senator Bob Casey (D- PA), and more than 50 co-sponsors introduced the resolution creating NTDSW in October 2007. This observance now takes place annually during the third full week in October.

This week emphasizes the importance of following the rules of the road, and addressing the greatest dangers for teen drivers: alcohol, inconsistent or no seatbelt use, distracted and drowsy driving, speeding, and number of passengers. As motor vehicle crashes continue to be the leading cause of death for teens (15 to 18 years old) in the United States, the statistics are sobering.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2016 there were 2,082 teen drivers involved in fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes, resulting in 2,288 fatalities. Contributing factors to these fatalities included:

• Unrestrained (no seat belt): 58%
• Speeding: 31%
• Drinking: 20%
• Distracted driving: 10%

West Bend is committed to helping teenagers develop the knowledge, skills, and responsibility needed to operate a motor vehicle safely. We proudly sponsor Road America’s Teen Driving School. This program goes beyond typical drivers’ education by putting participants in common emergency situations while in a safe, controlled, off-street environment. Participants practice collision avoidance techniques that include emergency lane changes, braking, skid control, and a variety of other fundamental car control drills.

Protect your kids from tip-over accidents

Parents of babies, toddlers, and even preschoolers take many precautions to protect their children, including installing baby gates, outlet covers, and cabinet locks. Unfortunately, a significant household hazard is often overlooked. Many parents are unaware of the dangers associated with furniture and televisions that aren’t properly secured.

The death and injury statistics for TV and furniture tip-overs are truly eye opening. This infographic from the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) highlights some scary information including: 

• One child dies every two weeks when a TV, piece of furniture, or appliance falls on him or her.
• Tip-over accidents result in about 25,400 injuries per year for an average of three per hour.

In 2015, CPSC launched, “Anchor It!” a national public education campaign aimed at reducing the number of deaths and injuries from tipping furniture and TVs. Visit the campaign website for information, guidance, videos, and other materials on why and how to anchor your TVs and furniture.

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month

Observed each October since launched in 2004 by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) strives to raise awareness about the importance of cyber security.

Since 2009, the overriding theme has been, “Our Shared Responsibility,” focusing on the role everyone plays in securing digital assets within their control. The goal is to educate individuals and businesses on security practices that can help protect personal devices, business resources, and the nation’s critical infrastructure from cyber threats. 

The campaign has utilized weekly themes since 2011, with each theme focusing on a relevant topic. Themes have included education, cybercrime, law enforcement, mobility, critical infrastructure, and small and medium-sized businesses. This year’s themes address many important areas.

• October 1 – 5
  Make Your Home a Haven for Online Safety

• October 8 – 12
  Millions of Rewarding Jobs: Educating for a Career in Cybersecurity

• October 15 – 19
  It’s Everyone’s Job to Ensure Online Safety at Work
  
  
• October 22 – 26
  Safeguarding the Nation’s Critical Infrastructure

Click here to learn more about each of these themes.

Click here to learn more about the history of NCSAM and results from last year’s campaign.

Then, remember to be vigilant to cyber threats year round. “Stop. Think. Connect.™” offers additional resources for incorporating valuable security practices into your online routine. This tip sheet covers some basic information and this toolkit offers extensive resources broken down by audience and topic.