Startling Statistics

Young drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 comprise 6.4% of the licensed population and too often are amongst the high number of Texans injured or killed due to speed, DUI, failure to wear a seat belt and other poor driving habits.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death of 15-20 year olds. NHTSA reported that 18% of the young drivers between the ages of 16 and 20 who were killed in crashes had a BAC of .08 or higher.

Driving on the Right Side of the Road is a project aimed at social studies teachers at the elementary, middle and high school levels that is possible through a collaborative effort with the Texas Municipal Courts Education Center and Law Focused Education Inc. a project of the State Bar of Texas and funding through the Texas Department of Transportation.

DRSR Brochure 

FY 2012 Highlights & Accomplishments

TMCEC again offered a series of teacher workshops in conjunction with the education service centers and the Law-Related Education Department of the State Bar of Texas.

New materials developed in FY 12 included two childrens' picture books (Be Careful, Lulu! and Don't Monkey Around with Safety in a Car), available in English and Spanish.  A set of skill building activites, called Do Nows, were developed for Grade 5 students. A BeSafe Online Learning Center was piloted for students and  youth, parents, teachers, and courts.  A research web page for elementary students was added. A high school mock trial on texting and driving was produced.  A reader's theater for older students was developed, focusing on the potential consequences of drinking and driving (avaliable in English and Spanish). A DVD lending library was established. 

Highlights & Accomplishments since 2008

• Driving on the Right Side of the Road summer workshops have been offered since 2008. Over 40 trainers across the state of Texas have been trained on the Driving on the Right Side of the Road program and materials, through the train-the-trainers that were held in FY 08, FY 09, FY 10, FY 11, and FY 12. 
• Driving on the Right Side of the Road was developed to infuse the study of traffic safety issues into grades K-12 social studies, language arts, and even math curriculums using the strategies of law-related education, including the use of judges and court support personnel as resource persons in classrooms. In addition develop a statewide conference showcasing these programs.
• These trainers were involved in offering over 100 Driving on the Right Side of the Road trainings across Texas in FY 08, FY 09, FY 10, FY 11, and FY 12 with over 1,451 people having been trained for a total of 6,688 training hours.It is anticipated that every year, the trained teachers positively impact 66,000 Texas children and youth through the DRSR Traffic Safety program. This number will continue to grow each year as additional teachers are trained.
• All of the FY08, FY 09, FY 10, FY 11, and FY 12 performance measures were met or exceeded.
• Sets of lessons in conjunction with hands-on activities, computer based learning, and gifted and talented extensions were developed. These learning strategies allow for the maximum benefit and retention. All of these materials and resources have been placed on the Texas Municipal Courts Education Center’s web-site for free access. 

Kids In Court... Children visit the Pasadena Municipal Court with Judge Lester Rorick to learn more about municipal courts.

TMCEC wishes to express its appreciation to Mr. Terry Pence, Traffic Safety Director, Traffic Operations Division, and Ms. Lydia Bryan-Valdez,  Program Manager, Texas Department of Transportation, for their valuable assistance in procuring funding and helping to implement the DRSR programs.

For more information contact TMCEC at 800.252.3718

A project of the Texas Municipal Courts Education Center

in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation