How do we best prepare the next generation of drivers? That topic will be the focus of the upcoming Hawkeye Lunch and Learn event, as Corinne Peek-Asa presents “Steering Teens Safe: How Research Has Informed Best Practices for New Drivers.”

The event will be held at noon Tuesday, Feb. 10, in the John and Mary Pappajohn Education Center, 1200 Grand Ave, Des Moines.

Peek-Asa will also give this talk at a Lunch and Learn event in Iowa City on March 4.

The popular Hawkeye Lunch and Learn series draws capacity crowds monthly. Guests are invited to bring their lunches—desserts and drinks will be provided. The event is free and open to the public, but space is limited—RSVP online .

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teenagers, and crash rates are highest in the first six months of driving. Over the last decade, the reasons for higher crash rates among novice drivers have been defined, and new programs have been implemented to protect novice drivers from crashes.

The University of Iowa and its interdisciplinary cadre of researchers have been at the forefront of research on teen driver safety. This presentation by Peek-Asa, professor of occupational and environmental health in the UI College of Public Health, will identify the causes of high teen driver crash rates and will describe some of the university’s innovative programs to reduce crash rates.

The Hawkeye Lunch and Learn series offers monthly events in Des Moines and Iowa City designed to connect Iowa communities, university faculty, and government and industry leaders. The Provost’s Office of Outreach and Engagement sponsors the series. Upcoming events in Des Moines include:

Thursday, March 19: Dr. Patrick Brophy, “Telemedicine in Iowa: Improving Health Care Delivery”

Tuesday, April 28: Bob McMurray, “How the Cognitive Science of Learning Can Impact Teaching, and How the Classroom Can Impact Cognitive Science”

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all UI-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, contact the Office of the Provost in advance at 319-335-3565.