Let’s help teens prevent car crashes – ‘Teen Driver Safety Week’ across the nation

In 2007, Congress passed a joint resolution making the third week in October National Teen Driver Safety Week. This is a perfect time to review the rules of the road with our teenage drivers.

New studies show that teens that had set clear rules to follow such as: paying attention to where their children were going, knowing who they were with and were supportive, were:

*Half as likely to crash

*Twice as likely to wear seat belts

*71 percent less likely to drive intoxicated

*30 percent less likely to use a cell phone while driving

These results were compared to teenagers who said their parents/guardians were less involved.

Car crash injuries are the leading cause of death and the fourth leading cause of injury related ER visits among teens aged 15 to 19 years.  In 2007, approximately 4,200 teens in this age group died and an estimated 387,000 were treated in emergency departments for injuries sustained in automobile crashes in the United States.

The whole community can get involved locally by implementing safe driving practices into home discussions and school curriculums. Together, everyone can make a difference and save a life.