Engage Parents for National Teen Driver Safety Week October 18-24, 2009
National Teen Driver Safety Week (NTDSW) has been designated by Congress as a time for communities, schools and families to raise awareness and provide solutions to teen driver crashes, the leading cause of death for teens in the U.S.
Start planning now for National Teen Driver Safety Week 2009 to help prevent teen crashes and injuries in your community. Get parents involved. Talk to them about teen driver safety to increase their awareness of this important issue. Then give them information that is backed by science to help keep their teens safe. Research is showing that parents can play a large part to ensure teens stay safe on the road.
Among 16-17 year olds, the main cause of teen driver crashes is inexperience mixed with either distractions (75%), speeding (40%) or drunk driving (17%), or some combination of these factors. Each community is a little different. The main factor connected to dying in a teen driver crash is the non-use of seat belts. These are good topics to consider for action in your community.
Parents Matter
To help with parent engagement and education, tap into research-based resources you can use during NTDSW. New research from the Young Driver Research Initiative (a research alliance of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm Insurance Companies®) confirms specific ways parents can reduce their teens' risk of crashing. Click here for new information and resources you can share with parents.
Do Your Local Research
When you participate in NTDSW, you become part of the solution. Find out what your community needs to address most. It may be speeding, driving after drinking, distracted driving due to passengers or cell phones, or basic rookie mistakes caused by inexperience. Contact your local law enforcement agencies or state highway safety agencies to determine what causing teen crashes where you live and drive.
Through your efforts to engage parents in this important initiative, you can help save teen lives all year long.
Start planning now. Here are some resources to get your NTDSW campaign started.
Get the Facts
Facts About Graduated Driver Licensing
Seat Belt Safety
Passengers Are A Deadly Distraction
Substance Use and Driving
Speeding and Other Risk Factors
Get the Resources
Get Ideas From Past NTDSW Campaigns
Register for the Ride Like A Friend Network (RLAF) and Get Teens Talking About How to be Better Passengers and Drivers
Share the Drive Materials for Parents
Tips for Conducting a NTDSW Campaign in Your Community
Learn about what other communities have done for National Teen Driver Safety Week.
For updates on NTDSW and other activities at the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at CHOP, subscribe to Research in Action, our bimonthly e-newsletter.
