National Teen Driver Safety Week is October 19-25, 2014
The “5 to Drive” is five important rules that teens need to follow to stay safe behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. Parents need to be involved in the process, and not be afraid to talk to teen drivers about these five simple rules. Making sure parents set boundaries and expectations from the onset of a teen driving a motor vehicle can mean the difference between life and death. Although this may sound dramatic, the truth is that motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer or persons between the ages of 14 and 18 years. Just five simple rules may make all the difference in the safety of a teen driver. These “5 to Drive” rules are:
*No Drinking and Driving
*Buckle Up Every Trip Every Time-Front Seat and Back
*Put It Down! One Text or Call Could Wreck It All!
*Stop Speeding Before it Stops You
*One passenger at a Time.
Although alcohol is illegal for those under the age of 21, it still play a part in about 28% of motor vehicle crash deaths for this age group. Everyone should realize that buckling up is the easiest way to improve their safety, and distracted driving is becoming a hazard to all those who participates in this activity while behind the wheel . Speed played a role is almost half of the motor vehicle crash fatalities for young drivers in 2012, and having more than one passenger in your vehicle increases your chances of a crash with each person you add to the vehicle.
There are laws in the state of Ohio regarding the number of passengers a teen may have when driving a motor vehicle, as well as laws that prohibit cell phone use by teens while driving.
Parents can join other parents during National Teen Driver Safety Week and make the discussion of “5 to Drive” a priority. Parents can find more information on this program, and how to help their teen become a safer driver at www.safecar.gov/parents . The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends the Teen Driver Safety be a priority of parents, traffic safety organizations, and other groups that advocate safety for teens.
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