Teens Behind the Wheel…
Their Safety Must Be Your Priority
Each year, traffic crashes are the leading cause of death among 15 to 17 year olds. And, one in 10 licensed drivers is in a reported motor crash every year.
Statistics show that the top six driving risk factors for teens are:
- Failure to wear a seat belt - Properly wearing a seat belt reduces the risk of fatal injury by approximately 50 percent. Each year 75 percent of teens killed are not buckled up.
- Inattentiveness - Driver inattention/distraction is the most common contributing factor in multiple vehicle crashes.
- Excessive speed - Illegal/unsafe speed is the most common contributing factor in single vehicle crashes for drivers.Teens particularly have difficulty adjusting speed to driving conditions.
- Fatigue – A person who has been awake for 24 hours experiences impairment nearly equal to a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10 percent. Teens often don’t get enough sleep.
- Driving at night – Mile for mile, 16 and 17 year olds are about three times more likely to be involved in a fatal car crash at night than during the day.
- Driving with other teens – The presence of teen passengers strongly increases the risk of crashing. For teen drivers, the more passengers the greater the risk.
What can you, as a parent, do? Driver education is a first step, but a parent’s role is crucial:
- Require seat belt use at all times
- When driving, set a good example for your teen
- Take the time to practice with your teen while they have their permit and during their first year of licensed driving. Give positive feedback frequently and remain calm while instructing teens.
- Expose your teen to different driving conditions including wet roads, snow, highways, rural and metro roadways, night driving, etc. Practice on roads unfamiliar to the teen.
- Minimize distractions by setting a limit on the number of passengers in the car, especially multiple teens.
- Prohibit driving while excessively fatigued.
- Choose vehicles for safety, not image.
- Discuss the dangers and legal consequences of driving impaired.
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