According to NHTSA data, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers 14-18 years-old in the United States. The new "5 to Drive" campaign, announced Tuesday, challenges parents to discuss five critical driving practices with their teenage drivers. The topics are designed to address poor driving decisions that have been shown to contribute heavily to the high death rate among teen drivers.
"Safety is our highest priority, especially when it comes to teens, who are often our least experienced drivers," says Anthony Foxx, U.S. transportation secretary. "The ‘5 to Drive’ campaign gives parents and teens a simple, straightforward checklist that can help them talk about good driving skills and most importantly, prevent a tragedy before it happens."
The "5 to Drive" campaign encourages parents to visit www.safercar.gov/parents/teendriving and discuss with their teens one safety topic each day during national teen driver safety week. Campaign topics include:
- No cell phone use or texting while driving,
- No extra passengers,
- No speeding,
- No alcohol, and
- No driving or riding without a seat belt.
"Inexperience and immaturity, combined with speed, drinking and driving, not wearing seat belts, distracted driving, and other teen passengers contribute to the high fatality rate of teens involved in fatal crashes," said David Strickland, NHTSA administrator. "I encourage all parents of teenagers to have an open discussion with their teen about the dangers common among young drivers and to make sure they use our '5 To Drive' program to develop the necessary skills to drive safely every trip, every time."
For more information on the "5 to Drive" campaign, visit www.safercar.gov/parents/fivetodrive.htm or the NHTSA homepage.