This week (October 19-25) is National Teen Driver Safety
Week. In honor of the teens we know and love, it’s important to raise awareness
about the topic of teen driver safety. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading
cause of death for 14-18 year olds in the U.S., so Ford developed programs like
Ford Driving Skills for Life
– an award winning teen driver safety program - to educate teen drivers, and
developed teen driver tips to share with teen drivers.
1. Engage in the driving
process – As teens
get closer to earning/acquiring their learner’s permit, parents should actively
engage with them about driving. Talk about safe driving behaviors, practice with
them, seek educational opportunities, and be clear that unsafe actions won’t be
tolerated.
2. Buckle up – It’s the law. In a crash, a person
not buckled up is much more likely to be injured or killed than someone wearing
a safety belt. Always buckle up and require all passengers to buckle up for
everyone’s safety.
3. Never speed – Research done for Ford’s ‘Driving
Skills for Life’ shows that if parents speed, their teens are more likely to do
the same. Speed-related factors continue to be reported in about one-third of
all traffic deaths nationally.
4. Don’t drive distracted – By setting a tough “no
distractions” rule for teens, young drivers will keep their hands on the wheel
and eyes on the road.
5.
Don’t follow too
closely – Keep the proper
distance from the car in front of you. Remember that the faster you drive, the
longer it takes to stop. Doubling vehicle speed can nearly quadruple the
distance required to stop.
6. Limit the number of
passengers –
Graduated Driver License laws restrict the number passenger for novice drivers
to help reduce the potential for distraction and focus on the driving
task.
7.
Never
drink and drive –
Under-age use of alcohol and illicit drugs is illegal, and combining alcohol or
drugs with driving can be deadly at any age.
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