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.
That’s one of the reasons I invite you to take part in National Teen Driver Safety Week, next week. It’s a great time to talk with your teens about the risks they face while driving or riding in a vehicle.
During the week, we’re state and local highway safety and law enforcement organizations are teaming up with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to help promote tips on how to start conversations with their teen drivers about the must-follow rules of the road:
- No Drinking and Driving. Remind your teen driving under the influence of any impairing substance, including illicit or prescription drugs, could have deadly consequences and impaired driving laws are strictly enforced.
- Buckle Up—Every Trip, Every Time. Everyone—Front Seat and Back. Remind your teen it’s important to buckle up on every trip, every time, no matter what – front seat and back.
- Eyes on the Road, Hands on the Wheel. All the Time. Remind your teen about the dangers of texting or using the phone while driving.
- Follow the Posted Speed Limit. Remind your teen to always stay within the speed limit.
- 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.
- Avoid Driving Tired. Make sure your teen gets a good night’s sleep; their grades, their friends, their passengers, and other drivers will thank them because they’ll be a safer driver.
Parents, next week and every week, educate your teen drivers about these rules to reduce road risks.