Teen Driving Safety

This week, the National Safety Council's Safety Month Awareness Campaign focuses on teen driving. Here are some facts from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Safety Council (NSC).

• 15-24-year-olds comprise only 14% of the US population, but they account for approximately 30% of motor vehicle accident costs.
• Teens account for approximately 10% of the US population, but they account for 12% of those fatally injured in car crashes.
• 4,544 teens died in car crashes in 2005. Over 400,000 were injured badly enough to visit a hospital emergency room.
• Each day TEN 15-20-year-olds are killed in car crashes.

The CDC is an excellent resource for parents, driving trainers, law enforcement officers, and public officials. Visit the CDC's teen driver page.

The NSC provides training materials and other information to assist responsible parties (parents, driving trainers, administrators, employers, and so on) with issues on teen driving. Visit the NSC's teen driver page.

Download the NSC's Family Guide to Teen Driving.

Learn about Graduated Driver's Licenses at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Q&A page.

Here are some ways you can help:

• Support Graduated Driver Licensing and the politicians who support or advocate it.
• Be an involved parent. Several studies have shown that parental involvement has a bigger effect on teen driving safety than expensive training programs.
• Set a good example on the road. Young people tend to repeat behaviors they see in adults.