National Teen Driver Safety Week Is October 15-21, 2023

National Teen Driver Safety Week kicks off this Sunday and runs through October 21, 2023. It's a great time for parents and caregivers to have serious conversations with teen drivers about safe driving habits. The greatest dangers for teen drivers according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) are alcohol, inconsistent or no seat belt use, distracted and drowsy driving, speeding, and number of passengers.

The Facts

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for teens (15-18 years old) in the United States. NHTSA says that 2,608 people were killed in crashes involving a teen passenger vehicle driver (15-18 years old) in 2021, of which 861 deaths were the teen driver. NHTSA also shares the following stats and advice:

• Impaired Driving:  Nationally, in 2021, 19% of teen passenger vehicle drivers involved in fatal crashes had alcohol in their system. But impaired driving isn't just about alcohol. Like other drugs, marijuana affects a driver’s ability to react to their surroundings. It slows reaction time, affecting a driver’s ability to drive safely. Remind your teen that driving under the influence of any impairing substance — including illicit or prescription drugs, or over-the-counter medication — could be deadly. The NHTSA says it's critical that teen drivers understand that driving impaired can have repercussions, that strict penalties may apply, that they may lose their license if they are caught driving impaired, and that they will face additional consequences for breaking rules they agreed to follow when they started driving.
  
  

• Seat Belts: Wearing a seat belt is one of the simplest ways for everyone to be safe in a vehicle. Unfortunately, too many teens aren’t buckling up. In 2021, 51% of the teen passenger vehicle drivers who died in crashes were unbuckled. Even more troubling, when the teen driver involved in the fatal crash was unbuckled, nine out of 10 of the passengers who died were also unbuckled.
  
  

• Distracted Driving: Distractions while driving can be deadly. In 2021, among teen passenger vehicle drivers involved in fatal crashes, 7% reported that they were distracted at the time of the crash.
  
  

• Speeding: In 2021, almost one-third (32%) of all teen drivers of passenger vehicles involved in fatal crashes were speeding at the time of the crash, and males were more likely to be involved in fatal crashes than females.
  
  
• Passengers: The fallout from teen drivers transporting passengers can be tragic. Research shows that the risk of a fatal crash goes up dramatically in direct relation to the number of passengers in a vehicle. The likelihood of teen drivers engaging in risky behavior triples when traveling with multiple passengers.
   

What You Can Do 

Use a Parent-Teen Driving Contract:

• You can use the contract that CarPro Show host Jerry Reynolds recommends (or create one of your own,) but be sure to outline when your teen can and can’t drive or get in the car with another teen driver.  This should be done as a family and taken seriously.  Sit down; go over the contract line by line, without distractions.  Everyone should have his or her cell phones off for this meeting.  We have a great contract, written by an Austin, TX-area judge that listens to the CarPro Show, on our website.  Click here for the contract →

Use Technology:  

• Several automakers offer in-car monitoring to make sure that your teen isn’t driving too fast or out of your agreed-upon area. There are a lot of aftermarket systems out there, too, that will text you if your child speeds, or leaves boundaries that you set.  If your child knows you are watching, and there are consequences, he or she is more likely to adhere to the rules of the contract.

Look At Crash Test Results:

• If you’re considering buying your teen a new car,  check the car’s crash-test scores before signing on the dotted line. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has a small overlap front crash test that simulates a 40-mph collision with a tree or light pole.

NHTSA Rules of the Road

The NHTSA also shares these Rules of the Road:

1. Don’t Drive Impaired.

• Set a good example by not driving after drinking or consuming marijuana or other impairing substances. Remind your teen that drinking before the age of 21 is illegal, and alcohol and/or marijuana and driving never mix, no matter your age. Also, remind them that driving under the influence of any impairing substance — including illicit, prescription, or over-the-counter drugs — could have deadly consequences.

2. Buckle Up — Every Trip. Every Time. 

• Lead by example. If you wear your seat belt every time you’re in the car, your teen is more likely to do the same. Remind your teen that it’s important to buckle up on every trip, every time, no matter what (both in the front and back seats), even while in taxis or ride-sharing services.

3. Keep Your Eyes on the Road, Hands on the Wheel, and Mind on the Driving Task. 

• Remind your teen about the dangers of texting, dialing, or using mobile apps while driving. Require your young driver to put their phones away and to turn on the “Do Not Disturb” or similar phone features when on the road. Distracted driving isn’t limited to phone use; other passengers, vehicle audio and climate controls, and eating or drinking while driving are all sources of dangerous distractions when full time and attention should be given to driving. Know your state’s law regarding mobile phone and texting while driving restrictions; 49 states ban texting while driving for novice drivers. Parents and guardians, take note: These laws aren’t just for teen drivers. See Distracted Driving Law Chart. If your teen disobeys, enforce the penalties set with your teen before they started driving.

4. Obey All Posted Speed Limits. 

• Speeding is a critical issue for all drivers, especially for teens who lack the experience to react to changing circumstances around their cars. Obey the speed limit and require your teen to do the same. Remember: They are watching you.

5. Limit Passengers. 

• With each passenger in the vehicle, your teen’s risk of a fatal crash increases. Review your state’s GDL law before your teen takes to the road — your state may restrict the number of passengers in the vehicle during the first months of driving on a provisional license. GDL laws may further dictate who can ride in a car being driven by a teen after the permit period has ended. 

Photo Copyright:  Sean Locke Photography/Shutterstock.com.