A PLEA TO TAKE A PLEDGE TAKING RISKS ON ROAD KILLS, TEENS REMINDED.

Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer

CANYON COUNTRY - Stay Alive on the Drive, a new safe-driving program aimed at local teens, was launched Monday in Santa Clarita.

The effort, coordinated by Mountasia Family Fun Center personnel, joins other programs, such as Drive Safe and campaigns by Mothers Against Drunk Drivers and by the mayor's Blue Ribbon Task Force, in an attempt to decrease the number of youths killed or injured on Santa Clarita streets.

According to statistics from the Automobile Club of Southern California, nearly 20,000 teen drivers are injured or killed every year in California. Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death among teens in the United States.

Mountasia spokeswoman Courtney Bourdas-Henn said the program is a result of her discussion with her boss about the alarming number of young people killed by reckless driving recently in Santa Clarita.

``We wanted to do something to keep them safe and responsible,'' she said Monday. ``Stay Alive on the Drive is a reward-based awareness tool. More than 6,000 pledge forms were distributed today.''

Alice Renolds, whose teen sons Danny and Tim were killed as passengers in a reckless-driving incident in February 2000, said she supports the project to help parents of young drivers.

``We need to continually tell the teens about the pain for parents that never goes away,'' she said. ``If one or two young people come away with the message, then it's all been worthwhile.''

Participants sign an agreement and wear a wristband this week that earns them discounts and free items from local businesses, such as Fatburger, Ice Station Valencia, Maggie Moo's, Santa Clarita Lanes and Mountasia. Terms of the agreements seem worthy of applying to all drivers, regardless of their age, sponsors point out.

``I agree not to react to other drivers' bad driving habits and behaviors. I agree not to race others,'' reads the contract. Other terms include obeying traffic laws, wearing seat belts, avoiding unsafe practices and transporting only as many passengers as adults have deemed acceptable.

Tess Simgen from the Santa Clarita Community Services Department said the program gives agencies and merchants a chance to step up to give incentives to kids and also educate them on driving safely. The project brings together the resources of the William S. Hart Union High School District, the Santa Clarita Valley sheriff's station, the California Highway Patrol, SCV Teen Safe Rides, the SCV Youth Project and the Auto Club.

A percentage of the proceeds raised during the week at participating businesses will go toward the Blue Ribbon Youth Memorial for youths killed in traffic crashes, which is scheduled to be built in Central Park.

``We're going into the final design stage,'' Simgen said. ``And we're also launching another round of fund-raising efforts in January. The kids have raised $10,000 so far, but initial estimates are that it will cost $80,000 to build.''

``We can never put enough emphasis on teen safe driving,'' said sheriff's Deputy Tony Arnold, a traffic investigator. ``We'll do anything we can do to positively impact the teens. We're going to keep putting out any programs that are available.

``If we can save one child or adult, or anyone for that matter, from getting hurt, that's what we're concerned with. We want to make the roads safe for everyone in the valley.''

Bourdas-Henn added that Mountasia officials wanted to sponsor this program to support its employees, many of whom are teens.

``We've had numerous employees get in accidents where they've come very close to being injured seriously,'' she said. ``It affects them personally and psychologically, so it's important that we do anything we can to support them making the right choices.''

Carol Rock, [phone]

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Tom and Alice Renolds, parents of two local teen passengers killed in a crash blamed on a young, reckless driver, make a plea Monday for safe driving.

(2 -- 3) Brandy Mare, at left, s signs a contract and puts on a wrist band to remind her to drive safely. Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens.

David Crane/Staff Photographer