New York state is one of the safest states for teenage drivers. However, when it comes to children, even one accident is too many.

This week, the state is launching its annual No Empty Chair campaign. Students at one high school are taking it one step further.

What You Need To Know

‘No Empty Chair’ is an initiative in which law enforcement works with communities to raise awareness of the dangers youths can experience behind the wheel
Students say they never want to have an empty seat at graduation because a student was involved in a tragic accident

In addition to texting while driving and driving drunk, students say they also want to make sure no one in their class, or any class, is out driving because their mental health isn’t in a good place

“I would rate it in the top two or three hardest things you can do in this career,” Boonville Police Chief David Olney said.

A police officer knocking on a door. For the person answering, the future may never be the same again.

“A death notification from a traffic crash, especially with a child or a youth, is just unimaginable,” Olney added.

To help prevent that from happening. New York state is once again launching the “No Empty Chair.” It’s an annual initiative meant to raise awareness and enforce laws to prevent teen driving tragedies.

“We just want kids to make good, solid decisions… We want them to be safe and to have a, you know, a great future,” Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol said.

The chair represents a seat at graduation. The initiative focuses on everything from speeding in school and work zones, to texting and drinking while driving.

However, police know they cannot solve this problem alone. It’s why departments team up with their communities, parents, businesses and schools.

“It takes a village. I know that’s a slogan, that’s used all the time, but it’s true,” Maciol said.

A village that also includes the teenagers that understand the dangers, and trusting they will make the right decisions for themselves and each other.

“Just talking to them and being like, ‘Hey, I think this is really unsafe. What you’re doing, like, I care about you. It’s not worth it,’” Adirondack High School Senior Kirsten Croniser said.

It’s that communication, student-to-student, that is not an official part of this program, but one students feel is just as important.

That communication, the friendship, to help see when a classmate is struggling and may head out on the road — not drunk, not texting — but just in a rough place mentally.

“I think just talking to your friends, letting them know, like, ‘hey, I care about you,’” Croniser added.

“I am a person, that even if they don’t know me, I will listen to them. If they need someone to talk to, I won’t be a person who will judge. I do hope that there are more people like that in the school who will just listen,” Adirondack High School Senior Hannah Hance added.

It’s because in the end, that care, that compassion, could also be what helps keep all the chairs full at graduation.

Here is the list of topics this week during No Empty Chair:

Monday, April 20 – Underage Drinking and Impaired Driving
Tuesday, April 21 – Seatbelts and Child Restraints
Wednesday, April 22 – Cell Phone Use and Texting
Thursday, April 23 – Operation Safe Stop
Friday, April 23 – Speeding in School Zones