Two Cape Girardeau teen-agers representing Southeast Missouri recently returned from a statewide meeting aimed at reducing youth-related traffic accidents.

Dawn Conner and Tahisha McBride attended the Youth Advisory Council meeting in Jefferson City. The council is sponsored by the Missouri Division of Highway Safety.

Highway safety director Joyce Marshall said the involvement of youths is important to the work of improving highway safety.

"In order to develop the most effective solutions to the problems associated with young drivers, it is essential to have input from those involved in these crashes -- the young drivers themselves," Marshall said.

"In addition, they are uniquely equipped to reach their peers and are eager to share their perspective," she said.

The Division of Highway Safety established the Youth Advisory Council in 1997 to advise the division on traffic safety programming for youths. The council is comprised of 13 members, ages 15 to 20, who meet six times a year.

The top three priorities set by the council are impaired driving, safety belts and speeding.

In 1997, 30.5 percent of all traffic accidents in the state involved motorists under 21, even though young drivers only account for 9.4 percent of all licensed drivers in Missouri.

"Statistics will not change overnight, but with the efforts of the Youth Advisory Council we hope to reduce the number of teens involved in traffic crashes," Marshall said.