On May 15, 2003 at 10:00am, 154 St. Louis Park High School students, each representing a child killed last year on Minnesota roads, participated in a press conference to talk about these horrific deaths and how to avoid future deaths. The press conference was a cooperative effort between St. Louis Park High Students and Minnesotans For Safe Driving. The student groups involved were AFDA, which stands for Activities for Drug Awareness, SADD, Students Against Drunk Driving, and Natural Helpers a student peer group. Also involved were friends and family of 18 year old Kristal Monnens who was killed in a crash due to excessive speed, careless and inexperienced driving by a 16-year-old.

In 2002, 154 young people under 21 years old were killed in traffic crashes. At the press conference there were 154 St. Louis Park Students wearing black, each holding a different color fan. The white fans represent the 67% killed not using seat belts. Red symbolized the 30% killed by impaired driving and the yellow fans showed crashes involving other unknown factors.

One student said "We are all here today to speak to other young people and their families. WAKE UP!! This could happen to you. We don't know the specifics of each and every death, but we do know many could have been prevented. Wearing seatbelts saves lives. SO DO IT!! We've grown up hearing don't drink or use drugs, and especially don't drive impaired. SO DON'T!! Speeding, careless driving and inattentive driving also kill. .. Young people need to take responsibility for their actions and realize they aren't immortal. Parents aren't always there to fix things. If we are old enough to drive, we are old enough to realize the repercussions of our actions. I'm here to say no more. We, as young people are able to change the future. We are able to set examples for younger children and adults. Speeding is not cool. Wear your seatbelts, don't drive impaired and drive responsibly."

Minnesotans For Safe Driving participated in this press conference to save lives. Raising public awareness about the heavy toll of traffic deaths is just one step. Graduated licensing, drivers education, parental involvement, learning not to drive while impaired, using seatbelts and exercising teen responsibility will lead to fewer deaths in the future.