This coming week is National Teen Driver Safety Week, when parents are urged to talk with their fledgling teen drivers about the importance of caution behind the wheel. The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning’s Kari Arend tells WSJM News teens and young adults accounted for 7.6% of traffic deaths in Michigan last year.
“Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for teens, generally 15 to 20 years old,” Arend said. “We find that is the greatest risk of death despite all injury, disease, any type of violence.”
Arend says it’s critical teen drivers know to avoid distractions behind the wheel, to buckle up, and to follow all traffic laws. She notes Graduated Driver Licensing programs like Michigan’s are a way to improve safety among inexperienced drivers. They’ve been shown to reduce the teen crash risk by as much as 50%. However, the parents need to take an active role. Michigan State Police are offering young people an opportunity to enroll in the Strive for a Safer Drive program in which students put together driving safety presentations of their own and submit them for a chance to win cash prizes. The deadline to apply is November 14.
