STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- It’s no secret that driving can be an exciting, yet anxiety-inducing, experience for teenagers and parents, alike.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens between the ages of 15 and 18, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
In 2018, over 2,100 Americans were killed in crashes involving teen drivers, with 719 of the deaths being the teen drivers themselves.
With these statistics in mind, the week of Oct. 18 to 24 has been dubbed National Teen Driver Safety Week, a nationwide campaign to help educate teen drivers and their parents about the dangers of reckless driving behavior.
“This week -- and every week, parents should have conversations with their teens about the important rules they need to follow to stay safe behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. These rules address the greatest dangers for teen drivers: alcohol, inconsistent or no seat belt use, distracted and drowsy driving, speeding, and number of passengers,” according to the DOT.
Impaired driving is among the most pressing concerns for teen drivers. Despite the fact that teen drivers are not of legal age to purchase alcohol, 16% of teen drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2018 had alcohol in their system.
Parents should emphasize the risks of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol to their teens, constantly reminding them that such behavior is unacceptable.
Lack of seat belt usage also poses a danger to teen drivers, with 45% of teen drivers killed in a crash in 2018 not wearing a seatbelt. And in those crashes involving unbuckled drivers, nine of the 10 passengers who died also failed to wear a seatbelt.
Parents should remind their teens that seatbelts are not optional and play a pivotal role in potentially saving a life in the event of a crash.
With teenagers often glued to their cell phone, distracted driving also plays a major role in the reckless nature of teen drivers, with nearly 10% of all teen drivers involved in a fatal crash in 2018 being cited for distracted driving.
Parents should advise their kids to avoid texting and phone calls while driving, encouraging them to wait until they reach their destination to pick up the phone.
The need for speed often plagues new drivers as well, with 28% of all teen drivers involved in a fatal crash in 2018 being cited for speeding. Male drivers have been observed to have higher rates of speeding than female drivers.
Teens should be taught that, while it can be exciting to put the pedal to metal on the open road, speeding drastically increases the chances of a fatality in the event of a collision.
Parents may also consider limiting the number of passengers permitted in a teen’s vehicle, with data showing that a teen’s likelihood of engaging in risky driving behavior triples when there are multiple passengers in the car.
“Start the conversation with your teen about safe driving habits during National Teen Driver Safety Week, but continue the conversation every day throughout the year. Even if it seems like they’re tuning you out, keep reinforcing these rules. They’re listening -- your constant reminders about these powerful messages will get through,” according to the DOT.
FINDING THE RIGHT VEHICLE
Looking for the perfect car to keep your teen safe?
Whether you’re looking for a cheaper, used car that still affords high levels of safety, or your willing to shell out some extra cash for a new model, we’ve got you covered.
Consumer Reports recently teamed up with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to compile lists of the best new and used cars for teen drivers.
Click here for the best new car models for teen drivers.
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The Link LonkOctober 23, 2020 at 12:59AM
https://www.silive.com/news/2020/10/teen-driver-safety-week-how-to-keep-kids-safe-behind-the-wheel.html
Teen Driver Safety Week: How to keep kids safe behind the wheel - SILive.com
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