Safe Teen Driving
Learning to drive is often considered a rite of passage for teenagers. But with the reward of being a new driver comes real risk. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States, taking the lives of eight teens a day. CDC’s Injury Center is committed to preventing teen crashes and related deaths and injuries.
According to a CDC study, the annual number of 16- and 17-year-old drivers involved in fatal crashes decreased by 36% from 2004 to 2008. The study states that graduated driver licensing (GDL) laws, or teen driving laws, that exist in 49 states can be credited at least in part for the reduction in death rates. These laws limit driving under high risk conditions for newly-licensed drivers, such as driving at night and transporting other teen passengers.
However, since one out of every three teen deaths is the result of a motor vehicle crash, further reductions in teen crashes and related injuries are essential. CDC’s new “Parents Are the Key” campaign and “Policy Impact: Teen Driver Safety” issue brief can help parents, policymakers, and others take steps to save young lives.
“Parents Are the Key” Campaign Launched Nationally
CDC developed the “Parents Are the Key” campaign to help inform parents across the nation about the key role they can—and should—play in protecting their teen drivers. Individuals and groups can use the “Parents Are the Key” campaign materials to help parents learn about the most dangerous driving situations for their young driver and how to avoid them. All of the campaign materials—including a parent-teen safe driving agreement, posters, fact sheets, video, social media tools, implementation guide, and more—are available free of charge at www.cdc.gov/parentsarethekey