Media release from AAA – The Auto Club Group:
Driving is an important and exciting rite of passage for teens. It is also one of the riskiest activities in which they can engage. That is why AAA-The Auto Club Group is teaming up with community partners this fall to support National Teen Driver Safety Week, October 20-26, 2024. It is important to discuss safe driving habits with teens every day. National Teen Driver Safety Week allows parents and guardians to talk with their teens about safe driving habits. Teen drivers must know the Rules of the Road before parents hand over the keys.
The Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data indicates that traffic crashes are a leading cause of death for 15-20-year-olds. Young drivers in Georgia who died in traffic crashes decreased by 12% from 218 in 2021 to 192 in 2022. While the numbers appear to be trending in the right direction, motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for drivers aged 15-19; therefore, advocating on behalf of teen driver safety remains a top priority for AAA.
“The role of parents is pivotal when it comes to instilling the principles of safe driving in their teenage children,” said Garrett Townsend, Public Affairs Director, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “That’s exactly why it’s crucial for parents to lead by example with their driving and to chat openly with their teens about making smart, safe choices when they’re behind the wheel. Also, NHTSA offers parents and guardians helpful tips and a framework for having discussions with teen drivers about risky driving behaviors that can lead to fatal consequences.”
These tips include discussions on how to influence positive behaviors and how to approach dangerous and deadly driving behaviors such as alcohol and other drug use, lack of seat belt use, distracted driving, speeding, or driving with passengers.
Teen driver safety risks:
- Impaired Driving: While teens are too young to legally buy, possess, or consume alcohol. It isn’t the only substance that can keep teens from driving safely: marijuana affects a driver’s ability to react to their surroundings. Remind teens that driving under the influence of any impairing substance — including illicit or prescription drugs, or over-the-counter medication — can have deadly consequences. Let teens know that safe driving behaviors are rewarded with the continued privilege to drive.
- Seat Belt Safety: Wearing a seat belt is a simple way teens can stay safer in a vehicle. Unfortunately, too many teens aren’t buckling up. Approximately one-half of teen passengers who die in crashes are unbuckled. Teen drivers and passengers are more likely to die in a crash if they are unbuckled (nine out of 10 of the passengers who died were also unbuckled). Empower teens to stand strong and confirm everyone is buckled before the vehicle moves. Reward teens with driving privileges for buckling up every trip, every time, and requiring all their passengers in every seat to do the same.
- Distracted Driving: Cell phone use while driving is more than just risky — it can be deadly. Texting while driving is outlawed in 49 states, Washington DC, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Remind teens about the dangers of using a phone while driving and clarify that any phone use (texting, talking, recording video, or using any social media apps) is unacceptable. Even if they are stopped at a light, remind teens that posting on social media while driving is unacceptable and illegal. 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 any driver. According to the most recent data available, in 2021, among teen drivers of passenger vehicles involved in fatal crashes, 7% were reported as distracted at the time of the crash. Remind teens that headphones are not appropriate to wear while driving a vehicle. All drivers need to be able to hear another vehicle’s horn or the siren from an emergency vehicle, so they can safely move over and out of the path.
- Speed Limits: Speeding is a critical issue for all drivers, but it’s especially deadly for teens with less experience. Approximately one-third of all teen drivers involved in fatal crashes are speeding at the time of a crash. Data shows that males are more likely to be involved in fatal speeding-related crashes than females. Practice driving with your teen in different types of weather and talk about the importance of speed awareness in changing road conditions. Remind teens to always drive within the speed limit.
- Passengers: Passengers in a teen’s vehicle can lead to disastrous consequences. Research shows the risk of a fatal crash dramatically increases in direct relation to the number of passengers in a vehicle. The likelihood that a teen driver will engage in risky behavior triples when multiple passengers are in the same vehicle. Many states limit the number of passengers teen drivers can have in their vehicles. Parents should know what those restrictions are and enforce the law for their teen drivers.
Self-reported surveys show that teens whose parents set firm rules for driving typically engaged in less risky driving behaviors and were involved in fewer crashes. Teens need to understand the rules, whether there are any other restrictions outlined in Georgia’s graduated driver licensing (GDL) law, and the deadly consequences that could occur. By knowing the laws, the teen driver’s safety and that of other road users can be improved.
“While teens should learn much of this content in driver education, nothing replaces the guidance from parents and guardians that help teens make smarter decisions behind the wheel. Parents should communicate expectations and review the “rules of the road” and set these rules before handing over the car keys,” Townsend said. Teen Driver Safety Week is a call to action to end the needless suffering caused by preventable teen accidents nationwide.
With a spirit of compassion and urgency, AAA -The Auto Club Group will host the “Just Drive” initiative as part of National Teen Driver Safety Week, seeking to touch the hearts of families and plant the seeds of change. Attendees get to join in on fun workshops, hear from experts, and try out some activities that’ll show you why it’s imperative to focus on the road, slow down, steer clear of driving under the influence, and always snap on your seatbelt.
For more information about National Teen Driver Safety Week, visit www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/teen-driving.