Mobility education changes
the way we think about getting around. It is giving teens an
understanding of all kinds of transportation – and not just the keys to
the car. The Mobility Education Foundation is taking a four-point
approach:
1.
Championing Effective Education
Too little has been invested
in developing effective education. There is a crisis in Traffic Safety
Education resulting from a lack of innovation. The world is
changing and we need a new curriculum that can keep up with the needs of
21st century adults.
Mobility education is an efficient,
holistic program that simultaneously addresses issues of safety,
environment, health and economics by redefining our expectations about
transportation and its consequences. To enable long-term learning, The
Mobility Education Foundation’s teaching methods engage the senses,
stimulate thought and provide a physical challenge.
2. Starting with Teens
While
millions of dollars are spent every year trying, unsuccessfully, to
change adult transportation habits, mobility education tackles those
habits before they’ve fully formed, focusing on teen driver’s education
courses as a point of intervention.
Mobility education
empowers teens to make safe choices in a world where motor vehicle
crashes are the leading cause of death among people ages 4–33 and every
year in Washington alone, car accidents kill 100 youth ages 14–20.
Mobility education instills healthy habits that make it possible for
teens to protect the wellbeing of their bodies and the planet by
teaching them the risks of physical inactivity and the environmental
effects of transportation decisions.
Mobility education
functions as a capstone course for related programs, such as Safe Routes
to School, making sure that options like walking or biking remain —
even after a teen gets the keys to the car.
3. Building a
Network of Partners
By connecting and leveraging the
collective efforts of its many partners and supporters, the Mobility
Education Foundation is creating a fulcrum for changing transportation
habits nationwide. Representatives of the Mobility Education Foundation
participate in the Teen Driving Roundtable, the Transportation Research
Board Operator Education & Regulation committee, and other National,
State and County-level advisory committees working to improve the
future of transportation. Our National Advisory Council and State
Advisory Council are equipped with the expertise to guide and coordinate
this effort, nationally and at the state-level.
4. Implementing
Sustainable Action
At the Mobility Education Foundation,
we have identified several opportunities for putting mobility education
into practice. These include:
Legislative Action - In
Washington State, a bill was introduced during the 2007-8 legislative
session to establish a large-scale pilot course. Our guidance and
sample legislation can aid in generating and promoting legislative
action in your state.
Local Initiatives -
Cities and Counties are searching for ways to promote new travel
behavior among adults and youth. A wide variety of local partners might
include traffic safety agencies, transit services and school districts.
Market-based
Approaches - The cost of traffic safety education or drivers ed
offered in commercial schools varies widely. By providing an enhanced
version, schools for private instruction stand to profit from the added
value of mobility education -- while offering parents and teens a
greater return for their money.
We will provide
guidance to partner organizations and individuals trying to make
mobility education happen in communities across the United States.
Become a part of our network today.
