Teen Driver Safety Week: Keep Teen Drivers Safe With These Five Rules

Many parents have fears and concerns when it comes time for their kids to learn to drive. This is National Teen Driver Safety Week, a time to focus on how to keep these inexperienced drivers safe behind the wheel. For parents, it's an opportunity to discuss or reinforce basic teen driver safety.

Related: Do You Know What Your Teen Driver Is Doing? Survey Says No

It's an important week, given the grave statics. "We lose more than 3,500 teens each year in preventable car crashes," Deborah Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council, said in a press release.

That's why it's important for parents to talk with their teen drivers about the many dangers of driving. A recent survey found that only 25 percent of parents have had a serious talk with their kids about the key components of safe driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

According to NHTSA, those five key components are:

No drinking and driving: Almost 1 out of 5 (19 percent) of the young drivers (15 to 19 years old) involved in fatal crashes had been drinking, even though they were too young to legally buy or possess alcohol.

Buckle up on every trip, front seat or back: 64 percent of all young (13- to 19-year-old) passengers of teen (15- to 19-year-old) drivers who died in motor vehicle crashes in 2013 weren't restrained.

Put down the cellphone: The 15- to 19-year-old age group has the highest percentage of drivers who were distracted by cellphone use and involved in a fatal crash. In 2013, 156 people were killed in crashes that involved a distracted teen driver.

Stop speeding: In 2013, almost one-third (29 percent) of teen drivers involved in a fatal crash were speeding.

One passenger at a time: For teen drivers, the risk of a fatal crash goes up with each additional passenger.

Parents should remember that they're an example behind the wheel for their teen drivers. Make sure to follow the above guidelines, with the exception of limiting passengers.

With help from National Teen Driver Safety Week, both parents and young drivers can establish boundaries that reduce the risk of teens being in an accident.

from Cars.com News http://ift.tt/1ODyG5H