See below for a list of 2008 state activities:

• Arizona—AZ Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) is participating in a press conference with the Ford Fund at the Driving Skills for Life Teen Driving Demonstrations Oct. 20 at Glendale Stadium. Nearly 1,000 students will experience behind-the-wheel training and lessons over four days at two locations throughout the Phoenix area. AZ GOHS also has online advertisements and email blasts "challenging" new drivers and their parents to learn safe driving skills by visiting: www.drivingskillsforlife.com. These are airing now through the end of the year.
  
  
• Delaware—Delaware is issuing a press release about the week and directing people to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia website for more information and resources. The state also has several Graduated Driver Licensing Parent Orientation Programs scheduled throughout the week. Teens from one Wilmington High School are doing public service announcements about safe driving that will air on a radio station popular with northern Delaware teens.
  
  
• Florida—Florida has written a proclamation in anticipation of the Governor's support, prepared press releases for distribution on Monday, Oct. 20, and is promoting the Ghost Out Program in high schools across the state running throughout NTDSW. The Ghost Out Program, funded by the Department of Transportation (DOT) through Highway Safety Grant Funds, is an effort to educate students about the consequences of drinking and driving or riding with an impaired driver. This program is scheduled to reach approximately 25,000 teens. The DOT has partnered with Florida’s Community Traffic Safety Teams, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the Florida Highway Patrol, as well as many school districts to support this effort.
  
  
• Georgia—Georgia is hosting a Teen Driver Safety Week press conference on Oct. 22 at Oglethorpe University and will issue a news release and media advisory to statewide media. The press conference will include Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety representatives as well as the Georgia Department of Driver Services, SADD, MADD and the university. Speakers will include current SADD students and victim testimony from a teen driver who survived a crash in which the driver who hit her was killed. Focus will be on passenger risk and Georgia's increased statewide efforts in teen driving safety awareness via the state's Ford Driving Skills For Life grant.
  
  
• Idaho—The Idaho Office of Highway Operations and Safety has several activities planned, including a free auto check at a local high school in Lewiston. In Blackfoot, Capt. Cowley from Bingham County Sheriff's Office will host a press conference. Capt. Cowley, along with local teen Brandon Ibarra, are featured in Idaho's media ads, which focus on teen driver speeding and safety restraints. The Idaho Transportation Department is issuing a statewide press release drawing awareness to recent research regarding the risks passenger pose for teen drivers. Throughout the week, law enforcement will be encouraging teen driver responsibility and distributing the state's brochure on winter driving advice for teens.
  
  
• Indiana—Indiana has a variety of activities to mark NTDSW. Indiana SADD will host an event at Penn HS, collecting seat belt use data as students enter a pre-football game pep rally. Those wearing their seat belt will be entered to win a raffle prize. Additionally, State Farm is conducting a rally at the State Capitol building, with 153 pairs of shoes representing the 153 teen drivers killed in 2007. Indiana SADD and the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute will also be demonstrating alcohol awareness and seatbelt use at various high school and college campuses. Demonstrations will include hands-on activities such as a wearing goggles to demonstrate the effects of alcohol on motor skills.
  
  
• Iowa—On Friday, Oct. 17, the Iowa Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau, is issuing a press release at the Johnston Middle School "Every Fifteen Minutes" event to announce NTDSW. The press release encourages young drivers to show respect to their passengers, and young passengers to show respect to their drivers by following simple safety steps: always wear a safety belt, limit distractions, and stay within set speed limits. Teens will be encouraged to go to a number of driver safety web sites for additional information.
  
  
• Kentucky—In support of NTDSW, the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety is conducting highway safety programs in high schools statewide throughout the week. Media includes a statewide press release, local advisories and releases for each school program, as well as an audio news release running in major markets throughout the week. A story in the "Safety Connection" newsletter distributed to highway safety professionals, advocates, and educators will highlight the events of the week.
  
  
• Louisiana—The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, in partnership with Louisiana State Farm, is issuing a series of news advisories highlighting "Project Ignition," NHTSA Teen Belt Pilot Program, "U R the Spokesperson," and other programs currently being implemented throughout the state. Each of the state's Youth Advisory Council members are issuing editorials on teen safe driving, and information will be provided to school communities on creating their own press event to highlight their local activities.
  
  
• Maryland—Maryland is holding an event at the Drive to Survive training facility in Gaithersburg with WJLA. The broadcast, scheduled for Oct. 20, will contrast a teen driving on the training track while texting and while not texting. The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration is putting together an informational brochure and press release, with tips for parents and teens. Maryland is also announcing a new contest, funded by a Ford Driving Skills For Life grant and state funds, for juniors and seniors to produce a 30- or 60-second public service announcement to be aired on local cable television stations. The winner's school will receive funding for after-prom events.
  
  
• Massachusetts—In Massachusetts, the week is kicking off on Oct. 19 with a keynote presentation on the importance of teen traffic safety to more than 300 youth and advisors from Massachusetts high schools at the Massachusetts SADD Statewide Youth Conference, primarily funded by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS). Many workshops at this event provide traffic safety strategies for students to bring back to their schools and communities. On Oct. 21, the state Department of Public Health is presenting information on the Junior Operator License JOL Law at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. EOPSS will also mail letters to school superintendents and principals notifying them of NTDSW and will provide traffic safety activities for use now and throughout the year.
  
  
• Minnesota—Minnesota is announcing its “Buckle Up, Teens! TV Commercial Challenge,” a contest where teens produce seat belt-promoting TV spots. The top spots will be posted for an online vote in May 2009. The winner receives $1,000 and a broadcast premiere of their spot. Minnesota is also sharing information about the deadliest counties for teen drivers, based on 2005-2007 data. Facts will highlight belt use among teens killed as well as the number of fatal and serious injury crashes involving teen drivers (ages 16-17).
  
  
• Mississippi—The Mississippi Office of Highway Safety and the Mississippi Student Advisory Board has scheduled their Club Officer Training to coincide with NTDSW. Club Officer Training invites students in grades 7-12 for a day of motivation and workshops including such topics as seat belt safety, distracted driving, drinking and driving, and many more. Nearly 400 students have registered. The local State Farm Office will issue a media release on the event and NTDSW. The Office of Highway Safety has written a proclamation and sent it to the Governor. Mississippi is also spreading the word through the the state's SADD chapters.
  
  
• Missouri—Missouri is reaching out to teens with its Never Made It teen safety belt campaign. Paid media runs through October and includes radio, cable and Internet ads that feature short games that end in a safe driving message and click through to saveMOyouth.com. A statewide press release details the campaign plans. In addition, the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety is sponsoring the Battle of the Belt program, where high schools compete for the highest rate of seat belt usage. The coalition provides incentive items, including t-shirts, air fresheners and dog tags with an "Arrive Alive - Buckle Up" message. More information can be found online at saveMOlives.com and saveMOyouth.com.
  
  
• Nebraska—In conjunction with the statewide "Click It Don't Risk It" coalition, a total of 225 Nebraska middle schools and high schools are participating in the "Come Home Safe" campaign initiative targeting safety belt use. These schools are conducting safety belt use promotions and observation surveys and various other activities during the week. These activities are being linked with football homecoming games. Schools that can demonstrate increased use will be eligible for cash awards and a special Governor's Honor Roll recognition.
  
  
• New Jersey—Throughout NTDSW, the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety will participate in several press conferences and events focusing on keeping teens safe behind the wheel. Press conferences with the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission and the Work Zone Safety Partnership will help shine the spotlight on a variety of teen driving issues, while also providing an update on the status of the recommendations of the state's Teen Drivers Study Commission.
  
  
• New York—New York is holding a press conference in Syracuse, NY on Monday, Oct. 20 to kick off the week. The press event is being held in conjunction with New York's annual fall highway safety conference. Speakers include the Chair of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and Commissioner of the DMV David Swarts as well as Dr. Kenneth Ginsberg from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. In addition, attendees will be able to watch a demonstration of a teen using the state's driving simulator while texting on a cell phone.
  
  
• North Dakota—The North Dakota Department of Transportation is distributing NTDSW information to Safe Communities coordinators across the state. Safe Communities programs are planning for local activity within their service areas to be conducted throughout the week.
  
  
• Ohio—The Ohio Department of Public Safety (DPS) is sending a statewide, coordinated release to raise awareness for teen driver safety. While many of DPS divisions cover teen driver safety (Highway Patrol, EMS, BMV) the Ohio Traffic Safety Office will be the lead. Ohio DPS is also highlighting the week on the front page of its website starting the week of Oct. 13th. In addition, Ohio is reaching out to the more than 600 high school superintendents across the state and offering them buckle up materials designed for high school students, informing them of the "Ride Like a Friend" campaign and website, and encouraging them to start campaigns in their school for NTDSW and throughout the year.
  
  
• Oregon—Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski has proclaimed Oct. 19-25, 2008 as Oregon Teen Driver Safety Week, in conjunction with National Teen Driver Safety Week. Throughout the week, students from around the state will participate in the Driver Excellence Scholarship Challenge. Sponsored by the Oregon Department of Transportation Safety Division, Western Oregon University, Oregon Traffic Safety Education Association, Governors Highway Safety Association and funded through a grant from the Ford Motor Company’s Driving Skills for Life program, the Challenge will test participants’ knowledge and driving skills and is designed to raise awareness by recognizing outstanding teen drivers. Read more about the program on the ODOT website at www.oregon.gov/ODOT/COMM/nr08090901.shtml.
  
  
• Pennsylvania—Community Traffic Safety Coordinators across Pennsylvania are gearing up for the week by writing news releases to inform the public; giving presentations to schools, law enforcement, medical personnel and others; developing materials for students and parents; and encouraging local high schools and SADD chapters to get involved. PennDOT's Safety Administration is coordinating a statewide outreach program for high schools, to be held Oct. 21. Bucks County will be working with the Bucks County Transportation Management Association to conduct a High School Seat Belt Challenge. The Allentown area will host events throughout the month of October, including the one-day conference "Into the Driver's Seat: Policies and Practices to Develop Safer Teen Drivers," and a series of parent focus groups.
  
  
• Puerto Rico—The Puerto Rico Traffic Safety Commision is conducting a series of activities during the week. The message will focus on having a designated driver. Among the series of activities, Puerto Rico will use two radio ads expected to have a huge impact on the young driver. Posters will be placed in bathrooms at various pubs, and educational material will also be distributed in different universities and high schools across the island.
  
  
• Tennessee—Tennesee has several activities planned at high schools across the state. A professional magician will use magic to entertain and educate students about the dangers of risky behaviors like drinking and driving and excessive speeds. Students at Portland High School will participate in a ThinkFast - Alcohol Awareness Game Show. Blake McMeans, a former high school tennis star who was involved in a self-inflicted drinking and driving accident that left him paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair, will share his story with teens at two high schools. Tennessee is also planning several Ford Driving Skills for Life teen safe driving events throughout the week.

Learn More:

• Media Coverage
• Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Laws
• Younger Driver Issues
• The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Teen Safety Resources