No Empty Chair Teen Driving Safety Campaign

“Town of Deerpark and City of Port Jervis Police Departments Partner with the Port Jervis City School District for the 2026 GTSC “No Empty Chair” Teen Driving Safety Campaign April 20–24, 2026”

Each year, thousands of high school students across New York State eagerly anticipate prom and graduation. For families, educators, and communities, these celebrations are among the most memorable milestones in a young person’s life. When a teen is lost in a motor vehicle crash, however, these moments become heartbreaking reminders of preventable tragedy. Motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of death and serious injury for individuals ages 16–20.

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) aims to help prevent these tragedies and ensure a safe, joyful graduation season for teens and their families. To raise awareness about safe teen driving, GTSC is once again launching the “No Empty Chair” campaign—a weeklong initiative combining education with focused traffic safety enforcement. The theme symbolizes the empty seat left behind when a high school senior does not make it to graduation.

Officers from the City of Port Jervis and Town of Deerpark Police Departments will join law enforcement agencies statewide to participate in the 2026 GTSC “No Empty Chair” Teen Driver Safety Initiative from April 20 through April 24, 2026. The goal is to improve young driver safety and promote responsible decision-making behind the wheel.

Throughout the campaign, officers will conduct targeted patrols focused on the following high-risk behaviors:

• Cell phone use and texting while driving• Speeding, particularly in school zones• Seat belt and child restraint violations• Compliance with Graduated Driver License provisions• Underage drinking and impaired driving in areas commonly used by students

Overtime enforcement for this initiative is funded through a 2026 Police Traffic Services (PTS) grant obtained through the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee by the Town of Deerpark and the City of Port Jervis.

With the school year nearing its end, police are encouraging parents, guardians, and caregivers to speak with their teen drivers about safe and responsible driving habits. These conversations, paired with visible enforcement, play a crucial role in keeping our roads safe. Our officers remain committed to enforcing vehicle and traffic laws in the coming months to protect young drivers and all members of our community.

The men and women of the Deerpark and Port Jervis Police Departments wish all high school students continued academic success and a safe, healthy future. Make smart choices: do not drink and drive, never get into a car with an impaired driver, and always drive carefully. You have bright futures ahead.

Daily Focus Areas and Safety Information

Monday, April 20, 2026 – Underage Drinking and Impaired Driving

General Statistics:• Driving while impaired by alcohol, marijuana, illicit drugs, prescription medications, or over-the-counter medications is dangerous and illegal.• Any amount of alcohol increases crash risk for teen drivers.• Marijuana is the most common drug associated with impaired driving after alcohol.• Marijuana negatively affects judgment, coordination, decision-making, and reaction time.• Teen drivers are more likely to crash than adults at the same blood alcohol concentration—even below the legal limit for adults.• Drinking alcohol under age 21 is illegal, as is driving after consuming any amount of alcohol.

Tuesday, April 21, 2026 – Seat Belts and Child Restraints

General Statistics:• Proper and consistent seat belt use is the most effective way to prevent injury and save lives in crashes.• Seat belts reduce serious injuries and deaths by about 50%.• Among teen drivers and passengers (ages 16–19) killed in crashes in 2020, 56% were unbelted.

Wednesday, April 22, 2026 – Cell Phone Use and Texting

General Statistics:• Distraction impairs driving performance and is especially risky for young, inexperienced drivers.• Teens often admit they know distracted driving is unsafe but still engage in it.• Dialing a phone increases crash risk sixfold; texting increases it 23 times.• Distraction was a factor in 58% of crashes involving drivers ages 16–19 in a study analyzing video footage.• Texting reduces attention, slows reaction time, and diminishes lane control.

Thursday, April 23, 2026 – Operation Safe Stop Education and Enforcement Day

Officers will collaborate with the Port Jervis City School District, WE Transport, and statewide law enforcement partners to address illegal school bus passing on routes with known violations.

What is Operation Safe Stop?

A statewide partnership promoting school bus safety through education and enforcement, supported by GTSC, NYSED, pupil transportation associations, and law enforcement at all levels.

Did You Know?An estimated 50,000 vehicles illegally pass stopped New York State school buses every day.

The Law Requires:• You must stop for a school bus with flashing red lights—whether approaching from the front or rear.• You must stop on all roads, including divided highways and school grounds.• Penalties for a first offense include a $250–$400 fine, 5 license points, and/or up to 30 days in jail.• More importantly, passing a stopped school bus could result in serious injury or death to a child.

Orange County School Bus Safety Program:

All Port Jervis school buses are equipped with stop-arm cameras that capture violations and identify offenders by license plate. For details, visit:https://www.orangecountygov.com/2478/School-Bus-Safety-Program

Friday, April 24, 2026 – Speeding in School Zones and Young Driver Speeding Risks

General Statistics:• Speeding greatly increases crash risk for teen drivers.• Faster speeds reduce reaction time and increase stopping distance.• In 2021, 35% of male and 21% of female drivers ages 15–20 involved in fatal crashes were speeding — the highest rate of any age group.• Crash risk rises when teen drivers carry teen passengers.• In 2021, speeding was a factor in 32% of fatal crashes involving teen drivers ages 15–18.

Message to Parents, Guardians, and Caring Adults

You play a vital role in keeping teens safe behind the wheel.

• Have regular conversations about safe driving.• Model responsible behavior every time you drive.• Create a Parent–Teen Driving Agreement outlining expectations and rules.

On behalf of the Town of Deerpark and City of Port Jervis Police Departments,Please stay safe, work hard, and enjoy the remainder of the 2026 school year.Go Port!

Helpful resources:

CDC “Parents Are the Keys to Safe Teen Drivers”:https://www.cdc.gov/teen-drivers/parents-are-the-key/index.htmlCDC Parent–Teen Driving Agreement:https://www.cdc.gov/teen-drivers/parents-are-the-key/driving-agreement.html(No Empty Chair): https://trafficsafety.ny.gov/no-empty-chairTeen Driver Source: http://www.teendriversource.org/MADD: https://madd.org/solving-the-problem/CDC Teen Driving Risk Factors: https://www.cdc.gov/teen-drivers/risk-factors/CDC Prevention Strategies: https://www.cdc.gov/teen-drivers/prevention/