Teen Tips
Car crashes are the #1 cause of death among teenagers
OK, so you’ve probably heard a million times that car crashes are the #1 killer of teens in the United States.
And you’ve probably already heard that the leading cause of crash is due to inexperience.
We get it. We really do. But your safety is important. And even though you think it will never happen to you, consider this: the three most common driver errors, accounting for about half of these crashes, are:
- Lack of scanning the roadway (that includes checking mirrors)
- Driving too fast for conditions (not just rain or snowy days … sunny days too)
- Distraction by something inside or outside the vehicle (yeah we’re talking cellphones, loud music, and too many friends piling in)
Driving is a great privilege. And it’s fun. But we want you to be safe. That’s why we are committed to working with you, your parents, your teachers, and anyone else who can help get the message out that inexperience, distractions, alcohol and drugs are deadly.
-
Mastering the Art of Parallel Parking
Still trying to master the art of parallel parking? Here are some helpful tips.
-
It’s not always going to be a sunny day!
Are you prepared for Bad weather driving?
-
Teen Smart
Here’s your chance to get behind the wheel with teenSMART. These scenarios are based on the kind of driving you do every day and are samples of the exercises you’ll complete in the program
One of the most effective ways to help you and your friends stay safe is through “peer to peer” learning … friends helping friends. Learn about the great work being done by these teen leadership organizations and find out how you can get involved.
-
SADD’s mission is to empower young people to successfully confront the risks and pressures that challenge them throughout their daily lives. We accomplish this by creating, equipping, and sustaining a network of student-run chapters in schools and communities focused on peer-to-peer education. SADD fosters a sense of belonging and promotes resiliency, leadership, and advocacy skills so that young people make positive life decisions that will carry them throughout life.
www.sadd.org -
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is a dynamic and effective national student organization that helps young men and women become leaders and address important personal, family, work and societal issues through Family and Consumer Sciences Education as determined by the state department of education.
www.fcclainc.org -
Friday Night Live (California) builds partnerships for positive and healthy youth development which engage youth as active leaders and resources in their communities.
www.fridaynightlive.org -
Started in 2002, Teens in the Driver Seat® is the first peer-to-peer program for teens that focuses solely on traffic safety and addresses all major risks for this age group. Teens help shape the program and are responsible for implementing it and educating their peers and parents; Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) provides the science, guidance and project resources.
www.t-driver.com -
Generation tXt is a teen-led program promoting safe driving strategies and providing education about the dangers of texting while driving. The mission is to save lives (and money) from injury, disability and death due to preventable car crashes caused by texting and driving. Generation tXt was founded by eight students at Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2009-10.
www.mygentxt.org
Still have questions?
Here are some links to important information that can help keep you safe:
- GDL Laws by state – Information about your state’s graduated driver license law
- Impact Teen Drivers – Take a spin on the Impact Teen Drivers Probability Wheel and find out how your chances of getting into a car crash are affected with each additional distraction
- Center for Disease Control – Teen Drivers – Get the Facts about teen driving
- AAA Keys2Drive for parents and teens
- teenSmart remains the most proven and effective driver crash reduction program ever developed, endorsed by more insurance agencies than any other program
- Safe Kids – for parents and teens 13/14-years of age
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – information for parents, teens and educators
- MADD Myths and Facts About the 21 Minimum Drinking Age – Drinking fogs thinking and erodes judgment. When you combine alcohol with teenagers’ natural risktaking6 and desire to impress their friends, dangerous things happen
- Foundation For Advanced Alcohol Research – Developed to prepare teens to be safe behind the wheel, IKnowEverything is an integrated effort that highlights the issues of drunk driving and distracted driving.
New Safety Initiative Leverages the Power of Dealers
More than 37,000 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2017. A new nation-wide awareness initiative launched at NADA Show 2019 seeks to tap into the franchised dealer network to change that.