Event Working to Eliminate Risky Driving Habits Among Teens

A driver safety event geared toward teens is encouraging parents to help hit the brakes on the number of automobile crashes involving young motorists. 

The annual two-day FOCUS event is hosted by the Trauma Center at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah. It’s being held in partnership with the Regional Safe Routes to School, with funding from the ThedaCare Foundation-Neenah and community support. 

The FOCUS event is designed to help students make safe choices by shedding light on the dangers of risky driving behaviors and their often life-changing outcomes. FOCUS stands for:

• Focus on driving
• Others are affected
• Clear distractions
• Understand substances impair judgement
• Safely reach your destination

The FOCUS event will be held on October 15 and 16 at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, 400 West College Ave., Appleton. More than 30 schools and an estimated 4,600 students are expected to be represented.

Getting Parents Involved

This year, the program offers a parent presentation to complement the main FOCUS event for students. It will feature information on common teen driving hazards, guidelines and tools parents and caregivers can use to help coach teens in their early driving stages and information about the Graduated Driver License.

The event typically highlights for students the process of a trauma situation, what it is like to be airlifted and to need emergency surgery after a vehicular crash. More than 100,000 students have participated in the program since its inception. 

“We’re placing more emphasis this year on parent involvement,” said Dr. David Schultz, a General Surgeon and Medical Director of ThedaCare’s Level II Trauma Center. “Studies have shown that parents and caregivers play a vital role in helping to instill responsible and safe driving habits within our young drivers. This year’s FOCUS event is specifically designed to help us better partner with parents to impress upon our young drivers the importance of staying safe behind the wheel.” 

The event, which was previously known as the P.A.R.T.Y. at the PAC, has served area students for more than two decades. It is a collaborative effort between area schools, local firefighters, law enforcement, emergency medical technicians, health care workers and crash survivors who volunteer to share their stories. 

According to the Wisconsin State Department of Transportation, only 6% of all Wisconsin-licensed drivers are ages 16-19, but drivers in this age group account for 16% of all drivers involved in crashes.

That’s why the FOCUS program and parent participation is important, Dr. Schultz said.

“We want our young drivers to understand the social contract they sign when they are registered as motorists. We want them to internalize this: getting behind the wheel means they have a responsibility to protect themselves and others,” he said. “If we can save one life as the result of the FOCUS program, it would have been worth it.” 

Parents interested in joining the event are encouraged to register here. 

About ThedaCare

For more than 115 years, ThedaCare® has been improving the health and well-being of the communities it serves in Northeast and Central Wisconsin. The organization delivers care to more than 650,000 residents in 17 counties, and employs approximately 7,000 providers and team members at 180 points of care, including nine hospitals. As an organization committed to being a leader in Population Health, team members are dedicated to empowering people to live their unique, best lives. ThedaCare is a not-for-profit health system with a level II trauma center, comprehensive cancer treatment, stroke and cardiac programs, as well as primary care. ThedaCare also partners with communities to understand needs, find solutions together, and encourage health awareness and action. In 2024, ThedaCare and Froedtert Health combined to form one system to strengthen local health care and provide high-quality services for treatment and prevention in a coordinated manner.