According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children and teenagers ages 14 through 18 every year. In the year 2013 alone, there were an estimated 130,000 injuries and 2,614 fatalities amongst teen drivers ages 15 through 19.
Because of the severity of the problem, National Teen Drivers Safety Week has been created to raise awareness about safe driving. National Teen Driver Safety Week is scheduled to take place between October 18 and 24, 2015.
Talk to Your Teens About Safe Driving
With National Teen Driver Safety Week quickly approaching, there is no better time to talk to your teens about safe driving. In fact, despite the high number of teen driver vehicle accidents every year, only approximately 25 percent of parents have had a conversation with their kids about the risks that are associated with driving. You can improve your teen’s safety—and reduce their risk of being in a fatal or injury-causing accident—by discussing safe practices when behind the wheel.
Remember the ‘5 to Drive’ Rules
The 5 to Drive rules refer to a set of rules that were put forth by the NHTSA as part of a larger campaign to encourage safe driving, and reduce the death rate amongst teenagers.
The five rules are listed below, and should be frequently reinforced by parents.
1. No cell phone use (texting or talking!) while driving.
2. No extra passengers (accident risk increases with multiple passengers).
3. No speeding.
4. No alcohol or other impairing substances.
5. Always buckle up, whether acting as a passenger or a driver.
Other Important Information for Teens
Teens and their parents should also review other relevant statistics about teen accidents, and the things that put teens most at risk for being in an accident. While speeding and alcohol are certainly of extreme concern and should always be avoided, distracted driving can be deadly. Encourage your children to take the pledge to commit to distraction-free driving.
Celebrate National Teen Driver Safety Week
National Teen Driver Safety Week is certainly something to celebrate. We encourage you to read our blog on 3 Tips to Avoiding a Bucks County Car Accident as part of your commitment to safe driving. In the event that you or your teenager is involved in an accident, the team at Cordisco & Saile LLC is here to help. To learn more, schedule a consultation by contacting us today at 215-791-8272.
