Teen Driver Safety Week

Some stuff to consider during National Teen Driver Safety Week!

MAJOR RISK FACTORS

Alcohol is involved in about 16 percent of fatal crashes involving 16- and 17-year-old-drivers.*
What causes the other 84 percent?

INEXPERIENCE

• About 900,000 U.S. teens report they were drivers in at least one crash within a 12-month period. That’s the wrong kind of experience.
• The right kind of experience involves a lot of supervised driving practice and then avoiding high-risk conditions for at least the first six months of driving alone.
• About two-thirds of fatal teen crashes involve driver error — making mistakes due to inexperience and distractions.

DISTRACTIONS

• Two or more peer passengers more than triples the risk of a fatal crash with a teen at the wheel.
• A driver who talks on a cell phone is four times more likely to be involved in a serious crash, regardless of whether it’s hands-free.
• Talking or texting on a cell phone while driving is dangerous for teen drivers because it takes their focus off the road.

SPEED

• Speeding is known to increase the likelihood of injury or death if a crash occurs. Teen driver crash risk increases incrementally with each mile per hour a driver goes over the speed limit.
• Speed is involved in approximately 38 percent of fatal crashes involving male drivers ages 15 to 20.
• Speed limits on the road were set for perfect driving conditions. Teen drivers need to slow down whenever it isn’t a clear, dry day with no other traffic on the road.

FATIGUE

• The effects of driving while tired are similar to the effects of drinking and driving.
• Teens are often tired from studying, extracurricular activities and early school start times.
• Three-fourths of teens report having seen other teens driving noticeably tired.
• Drivers younger than age 25 cause the majority of drowsy driving-related crashes.

THE FACTORS ABOVE CAUSE CRASHES. BUT WHAT KILLS?
NOT WEARING SEAT BELTS

• Two-thirds of teens killed in crashes were not wearing seat belts.
• Not buckling up is known to increase the likelihood of injury or death if a crash occurs.

teendriversource.org
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia | Research Institute