Get Behind National Teen Driver Safety Week 

The next National Teen Driver Safety Week (NTDSW) takes place on October 20-26, 2013. Start planning now to raise awareness about crashes involving teens behind the wheel.

The theme for NTDSW 2012 was  ‘Share, Not Scare,’ with people across the country sharing positive messages about safety with teens and their parents. Although graphic reenactments of car crashes and other tactics may get teens' attention, they may not be the best way to change behavior over the long haul. That's why the 2012 theme was to message to motivate by communicating the benefits of safe driving.  The following tips were used as a guide:

• Focus on the positive.Talk about positive behaviors like always wearing a seat belt and being a good passenger instead of focusing on what teens should not be doing. Here’s how.
• Engage rather than offend. Get your friends involved in creating a NTDSW campaign at your school that promotes the benefits of safe behaviors. Positively structured learning experiences have a much greater chance of motivating people to choose safe, smart behaviors. For campaign ideas, visit ridelikeafriend.org.
• Empower rather than scare. Teens want to do the right thing and be a part of the solution. Reaffirm their positive instincts by celebrating safe driving and passenger behaviors. Do not dwell on the few at your school who are rebelling in an unhealthy way. Stay positive. Others will follow your lead.
• Learn more about messaging to motivate at mostofus.org. This site offers advice about positive health-related communication. It also discusses how to build positive campaigns, ones proven to influence teens to avoid substance abuse, violence, car crashes, and other health risks.