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County News Online
“5 to Drive”
Campaign Helps Parents Protect Teen Drivers
Teen Driver Safety Week Is October 18-24, 2015
DARKE COUNTY – County News Online is joining with the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to promote the “5 to Drive”
campaign during National Teen Driver Safety Week. The campaign aims to
help parents talk to their teen drivers about the rules of the road.
“Even though your teens might be gaining some independence and getting
older, protecting them from harm shouldn’t stop now,” said Managing
Editor Bob Robinson. “The ‘5 to Drive’ campaign will give parents the
tools they need to keep their teen drivers safe.”
Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for U.S. teens 15 to
19 years old. In 2013, 2,614 teen (15-19 year old) passenger
vehicle drivers were involved in fatal crashes.
The “5 to Drive” campaign addresses the five most dangerous and deadly
behaviors for teen drivers. The idea behind the campaign is to give
parents the words to use when they talk with their teens about the
rules of the road. NHTSA’s website, www.safercar.gov/parents, has
detailed information and statistics about the five rules designed to
help save the lives of teen drivers.
The “5 to Drive” rules for parents to share with their teens are:
No Drinking and Driving - almost one out of five (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. Every Trip. Every Time. Front Seat and Back. – 64 percent of
all the 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 It Down. One Text or Call Could Wreck It All. - The age group of 15
to 19 years old has the highest percentage of drivers who were
distracted by cell phone use and involved in a fatal crash. In 2013,
318 people were killed in crashes that involved a distracted teen
driver.
Stop Speeding Before It Stops You - In 2013, almost one-third (29
percent) of teen drivers involved in a fatal crash were speeding.
No More Than One Passenger at a Time. - The risk of a fatal crash goes
up with each additional passenger.
Teen drivers need to follow these rules and any other restrictions
outlined in Ohio’s graduated driver licensing (GDL) law. Parents need
to outline rules and explain to their teens the deadly consequences of
unsafe driving practices. The “5 to Drive” campaign can help parents
start that conversation.
“We are hoping that Teen Driver Safety Week and the ‘5 to Drive’
campaign will get the word out to all parents of teens,” Robinson said.
“Don’t stop protecting them now that they can drive. They need you now
more than ever.”
For more information about Teen Driver Safety Week and the “5 to Drive”
campaign, please visit www.safercar.gov/parents.
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