Lt. Justin Ewing & Cpl. Justin Howard provide an invaluable perspective through their participation as presenters in the Young Traffic Offenders Program (YTOP), a program of The Research Foundation and it’s ThinkFirst chapter. This is a commitment of 24 classes per year presented to high-risk young drivers, ages 15-24, sentenced to attend by a county or municipal court. During each 45-minute presentation, they share their firsthand experience in responding to serious crashes, delivering a message that is both educational and deeply impactful for young drivers who have committed traffic violations. By sharing real stories from crash scenes, discussing the difficult responsibility of making death notifications to families, and reinforcing the importance of safe driving habits, they help participants understand that every decision behind the wheel has real and lasting consequences. Through their participation as YTOP presenters, they educated nearly 900 high-risk young drivers last year alone.
Lt. Ewing & Cpl. Howard play a vital role in bridging the gap between young drivers and law enforcement. They create an environment where participants feel comfortable asking questions, sharing their own driving habits, and gaining a better understanding of traffic laws and roadway safety. Even after their presentation concludes, they routinely stay to speak one-on-one with attendees, answering questions and offering guidance that extends beyond the classroom.
In addition to their work with YTOP, Lt. Ewing and Cpl. Howard are dedicated partners of ThinkFirst of Greater Kansas City. With ThinkFirst, they present valuable education and prevention information at middle schools and high schools throughout the region, helping educate students on distracted driving, impaired driving, seat belt use, and other critical traffic safety topics before risky driving habits develop. Their commitment to injury prevention, public education and community engagement has positively impacted thousands of young people and has undoubtedly contributed to making Missouri roadways safer for everyone.