Parents encouraged to take steps for teen driving safety
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States – ahead of all other types of injury, disease or violence.
During the recent National Teen Driver Safety Week, parents were encouraged not to hand over the keys until their teens know the rules of the road.
Parents can take simple steps to help protect their teen drivers from these tragedies by talking with them about ways to reduce some of the risks, enforcing the rules of the road, and by following those rules themselves.
Be sure to talk to your teen about these rules of the road before they have keys in hand:
■ Don’t drive impaired. All teens are too young to legally buy, possess, or consume alcohol, but they are still at risk. Nationally, in 2016, nearly one out of five teen drivers of passenger vehicles involved in fatal crashes had been drinking. But alcohol isn’t the only substance that can keep your teen from driving safely. Like many other drugs, marijuana affects a driver’s ability to react to their surroundings. Remind your teen that driving under the influence of any impairing substance – including illicit, prescription or overthe-counter drugs – could have deadly consequences.
■ Buckle up – every trip, every time. Everyone – front seat and back. Wearing a seat belt is one of the simplest ways for teens to stay safe in a vehicle, and it is required in all 50 states. Yet too many teens are not buckling up, and neither are their passengers. Remind your teen that it’s important to buckle up on every trip, every time, no matter what – front seat and back, including in taxis and when using ride-sharing services.
■ Eyes on the road, hands on the wheel. All the time. Distractions while driving are more than just risky – they can have deadly consequences. Remind your teen about the dangers of texting or using the phone while driving. Distracted driving isn’t limited to cell phone use. Other passengers, audio and climate controls in the vehicle, and eating or drinking while driving are all examples of dangerous distractions for teen drivers.
■ Follow the posted speed limit. Speeding is a critical issue for all drivers, especially teens. Remind your teen to always stay within the posted speed limit, weather and road conditions permitting.
■ Passengers. Passengers in a teen’s car can lead to disastrous consequences. The likelihood of teen drivers engaging in risky behaviors triples when traveling with multiple passengers.
Parents, this week and every week, educate and remind your teen drivers about these rules to reduce road risks. And remember, before handing over the keys, make sure they know and understand them.