They heard the latest statistics: In 2005, nearly 7,000 teenagers were killed in car crashes in the United States.

They heard the legal consequences: Get caught going more than 26 miles per hour over the speed limit and lose driving privileges for 90 days.

They heard the financial costs: Accidents from teens aged 15 to 17 cost society $34 billion each year.

But the most persuasive information the 29 teenagers attending the Shaler Township Traffic Camp heard were real-life stories.

Traffic Camp, now in its seventh year, was created to help teens who get citations to have their records cleared.

If, after attending the day-long program, the students don't get any other ticket for six months, the previous violation is removed from their driver's histories.

Cheree Slaven's friend attended the program in 2005. Back then, the citations were removed from the participants' records the very day they took the class.

But that year, just a few days after Traffic Camp, Ms. Slaven was in the car with that friend, who was driving 65 mph on a long, windy road.

He lost control. They went off the road and slammed into a telephone pole.

"I went straight through the windshield," said Ms. Slaven, 19, of Etna.

She was in a coma for 18 days and had such a traumatic brain injury that she had to re-learn how to talk and eat.

"They're not making these stories up," Ms. Slaven said. "Don't speed. It's just dumb."

Paul Moore, whose 20-year-old daughter, Crystal, was killed in a car crash in August 2002, described the moment when two state troopers and a local police officer told him his daughter had died.

The van that hit her -- driven by a 17-year-old who was speeding and lost control -- was traveling 89 mph and pushed Ms. Moore's Toyota Camry 65 feet.

The dashboard was wrapped around her head; the transmission was in her lap.

"The kids that did it, they were just playing a game that day," Mr. Moore said. "She was a young, vibrant, happy kid who lit up the room everywhere she went.

"She never had a chance."

Bethany Thomas, who was attending the class after getting caught going 46 in a 25 mph speed zone, said it was Mr. Moore's story that had the most impact on her.

"It's very eye-opening. It's like a hit of reality -- what you could have caused from speeding," she said.

The personal stories were particularly moving, she said, because Mr. Moore and Ms. Slaven live in her community.

Ray Marchinoe, an 11th-grader at Shaler Area High School, said the program was much better than he expected it to be.

He believes that Mr. Moore's story will have a lasting impact on him and his driving habits.

"It'll make me slow down," said Mr. Marchninoe.

Traffic Camp featured a number of speakers, including a local magistrate judge, a car insurance salesman and a local attorney.

"I consider the car a weapon," said Judge Robert Dzvonick. "That's why we're so worked up with this stuff -- to keep you guys around."

He spoke to the teens about underage drinking and the potential penalties associated with it.

"Everything you do has consequences. From this moment on, guys, it's all about decisions."

Mark Weidner, who's worked in the insurance business for almost 30 years, told the teens how much just adding them to their parents' policies cost -- on average an extra $700 per year.

If they have two accidents, the coverage goes up another $700, he said.

"It's not just a ticket. It's not just a day at Traffic Camp," Mr. Weidner said. "It's big bucks, as well."