It's sad to say, the leading cause of death of teens between that age of 15 to 19 in the United States is motor vehicle crashes. National Teen Driver Safety Week encourages parents to talk with their children about the dangers of driving and how to be safe while on the road. The national Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggests parents discuss the "5 to Drive" rules o the road with their teens. These rules include:
- No cell phone use or texting while driving
- No extra passengers
- No speeding
- No alcohol
- No driving or riding without a seatbelt.
Parent's behaviors are influential on their teen driver's safety. Talking with teens early about safe driving and setting a good example can help reduce risky driving behaviors and the risk of motor vehicle crashes. For more information on teen driver safety, visit the NHTSA website at
http://www.nhtsa.gov/Driving-Safety/Teen-Drivers
