Family messages can save teen drivers

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News release issued by the California Highway Patrol.

 

 

SACRAMENTO – The California Highway Patrol (CHP) recognizes National Teen Driver Safety Week, October 16-22, which provides an excellent opportunity for families to have lifesaving conversations with their teen drivers.
Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death for teenagers, ahead of all other types of injury, disease, or violence.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that nationwide in 2014, 2,670 drivers age 15-19 were involved in fatal crashes, resulting in 3,004 deaths.

In 2014 in California, 262 teens were behind the wheel at the time of fatal collisions. Sixty-five percent of those young drivers were at fault.
“Even as teens become more independent, their families still have a strong influence,” CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said. “Young people whose parents or guardians set firm rules for driving typically engage in less risky driving behaviors and are involved in fewer collisions.”
Inexperience is the leading cause of teen collisions.

The safest way for young drivers to gain experience is for a parent or guardian to ride with them frequently and monitor their progress. By helping their teenager gain experience, parents and guardians should also highlight the five most deadly behaviors for new drivers:
• Alcohol consumption: Driving or riding with anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs can have deadly consequences.
• Driving without seat belts: Wearing a seat belt is one of the simplest ways for anyone to stay safe and survive in a collision, but too many teens and their passengers do not buckle up.
• Distracted driving: Eyes must be on the road and hands on the wheel all of the time.
• Speeding: Almost one-third of drivers under age 20 involved in fatal collisions in 2014 were speeding.
• Carrying extra passengers: Research shows the risk of a fatal collision goes up in direct relation to the number of passengers in the car.

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