Michigan Sheriff’s Association’s STOPPED program nationally recognized as “Bright Idea”

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Young drivers are some of the most likely people to get in a traffic accident, and the Michigan Sheriff’s Association is trying to help change that.

The organization’s Sheriffs Telling Our Parents and Promoting Educated Drivers recently received national recognition. The Ash Center for Democratic Governance at Harvard University has declared the program as a “Bright Idea.”

The idea behind the STOPPED program is to enforce safer teen driving.

Isabella County Sheriff Leo Mioduszewski was pleased to hear of the honor and hopes that it will encourage others to use the program.

“I think it’s such a great honor to be acknowledged by such a great university,” Mioduszewski said. “I think the STOPPED program is something that really fits not only younger drivers, but parents as well. It’s a really good reminder that teenagers need to pay attention to their driving.”

Parents interested in the program can register for free at michigansheriff.com.

A STOPPED sticker is mailed to the parents who then place it on their vehicle’s windshield. If that vehicle is pulled over for any reason, the parents will receive a letter notifying them that the vehicle has been pulled over.

Terrence L. Jungel, Michigan Sheriff Association executive director, originally came up with the idea of the STOPPED program after talking with Kevin Walsh, sheriff of Onondaga County in New York.

“We started the program in 2005, and we had no idea what to expect,” Jungel said. “Almost 14,000 vehicles were registered in Michigan.”

According to Jungel, if a teenage driver has one passenger, they are 39 times more likely to have an accident, 86 times more likely with a second passenger and 282 times more likely to be in an accident with a third passenger.

Sixteen-year-olds simply don’t know how to drive,” Jungel said. “They’re still learning. They don’t have reflexes like an adult would have. They got to learn the right way.”

The MSA was created in 1877, which makes it the oldest law enforcement organization in Michigan.

“As a result of getting a national award, people will now think of it as a bright idea.” Jungel said.