The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration deemed Oct. 15 through Oct. 21 as National Teen Driver Safety Week.
Federal officials said the week was intended to bring awareness to the dangers of distracted driving, including alcohol and phone use, specifically aimed at teen drivers.. The campaign launched the new “5 to Drive” slogan – five safety tips that would help stop many of the dangers that lead to death or injury for teen drivers and the motorists that share the road.
The five tips are:
- No Cell Phones
- No Extra Passengers
- No Speeding
- No Alcohol
- Buckle Up
“The Problem: Too many teens are dying on our roads,” the agency’s campaign website states.
According to the agency, nearly 100,000 teenagers ages 15 to 18 are injured in car accidents each year and almost 2,000 are killed. Automobile crashes have overtaken disease, violence, and other types of injury as the leading cause of death for teens in America.
During National Teen Driver Safety Week, teen drivers and their parents were reminded through ads and social media campaigns about the importance of distraction free driving – not only for themselves, but for others on the road as well.
The Nations Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that it will also pursue other forms of public education, awareness, and legislation to curb distracted driving behaviors. According to the agency, using mobile devices while driving has surged in the past decade. In 2013, more than 3,000 people died in car crashes caused by distracted drivers, said the agency, while another 424,000 were injured..
The agency recommends that parents or caregivers of teen drivers have ongoing talks with their teens. They note that teens are the most likely to be as risk of an auto accident due to distracted driving.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration joins mobile device carriers and some states in efforts to combat distracted driving by teen drivers. Drivers, especially teen drivers, often believe that an accident could never happen to them, but the consequences of distracted driving can be fatal.
To help parents and teen drivers understand the dangers of distracted driving, the state of Texas introduced a program that requires teens to watch a video on safe driving habits.. AT&T has introduced a marketing campaign called “It Can Wait” to remind drivers to put down their phones while behind the wheel.
New state laws have also been passed to encourage drivers to keep an eye on the road. The new laws allow police to give drivers steep fines if they are caught with a cell phone or other distraction.
Those who have been injured or who have lost a loved one to a distracted driver should contact an attorney who can help ensure recovery for medical expenses and other losses.
The car accident injury attorneys at McDonald Worley offer a FREE case evaluation. Call today!