Parents and Guardians Encouraged to Discuss Road Safety During National Teen Driving Safety Week – NBC Connecticut

Teach young drivers to be responsible on the road. National Teen Driving Safety Week begins Sunday to encourage teens to adopt safe driving habits. Federal statistics show that car accidents are the leading cause of death among teens across the country.

For teenagers, hitting the road for the first time can feel like a rite of passage. Being able to drive is also a conversation that parents and guardians are having with these young drivers.

“I always talk to her about driving more safely,” Lauren Bachner, of Newington, said of her granddaughter.

Sunday marks the kickoff of National Teen Driving Safety Week. Meanwhile, the Connecticut Department of Transportation is partnering with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, asking parents and guardians to talk to teen drivers about road safety. Some say it’s a good idea.

“Very important. I don’t think they consider the laws and how they should drive,” said Steve Tosta, of Southington.

The DOT says some of the main risks include alcohol consumption, inconsistent or nonexistent seat belt use, and distracted driving. A public safety expert says another risk factor could be teens’ influence on movies or social media.

“It mimics what they saw in the Fast and Furious movies or on TikTok, and therefore these types of dangerous activities can lead to death,” Ken Gray, professor of criminal justice at the University of New Haven, said.

According to the DOT, approximately 1,037 drivers between the ages of 15 and 18 were injured in motor vehicle crashes in our state in 2022. An estimated 2,033 people were injured in crashes involving teen drivers…which represents almost 6% of all people injured on the road. year. It’s statistics like these that raise awareness among parents.

“With a potential teen driver in the near future, with my daughter, I mean, yeah, I definitely want to make sure we take every precaution possible,” said Lawton Arnold, of West Hartford.

The DOT says during this school year they will launch two programs in high schools across the state to raise awareness about drunk driving or distracted driving.