DATE:     10/16/98
CONTACT:  Kim Alexander, (864) 656-3848
WRITER:   Giles Singleton, (864) 656-3876

Extension Program Draws National Conference

     CLEMSON -- More than 500 high school students from across the
nation are expected to attend the 42nd annual National Student
Safety Program (NSSP) conference at Clemson University next year.
     The July 1999 conference is planned and led by students.
     Clemson Extension's teen driving safety program, "Cruisers:
The Attitude," is the reason Clemson was chosen to be the host
site. Kim Alexander, director of the program, spoke about Cruisers
at the 41st NSSP conference in Springfield, Ill. this past July.
Alexander is a Clemson Extension associate.
     The National Student Safety Program is the youth division of
the American Driver and Traffic Safety Educators Association
(ADTSEA). The annual conference helps make youth more aware of
highway safety.
     The three main goals of the 1999 conference are to provide
opportunities for students to network with each other about
successful traffic safety programs for youth; to recognize
students who are doing outstanding work in traffic safety peer
education; and to provide student leaders a role in planning and
conduction a conference.
     Between 500 to 1000 students are expected to attend.
     Drivers between the ages of 15 and 24 are at the highest risk 
of any age group. Their fatality rate is four times that of
drivers between the ages of 25 and 40.
     Cruisers enhances teen's abilities to make sound, safe
driving decisions. Designed to be a national model, the program
has received local, state, and national attention. Four schools in
two counties began pilot-testing the Cruisers curriculum earlier
this year.
     Cruisers will be offered statewide beginning in December.
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