National Teen Driver Safety Week Across the Country

October 21, 2012
Wichita Eagle -- Graduated Driver's License Law Credited With Reducing Accidents Involving Kansas Teens
This article cites the dramatic decline in injuries and fatalities involving crashes with teens behind the wheel in the state of Kansas. Strong Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws and an increase in teen seat belt use are major factors in this major public health improvement.

October 19, 2012
The Chillicothe Gazette -- Ohio Teens Appear to Get Seat Belt Message
The Ohio Highway Patrol is pleased to see that the majority of teens in the state wear seat belts, a proven way to decrease the likelihood of injury or death if a crash occurs. According to the organization, 91 percent of teens behind the wheel  involved in crashes in the state between 2009 and 2011 were buckled up. Nationally, teens have the lowest seat belt use for any age group. The Highway Patrol believes the increase in buckling up is partially due to its Click It or Ticket campaign at local high schools that encourages seat belt use and other safe driving behaviors.

October 19, 2012
trafficsafety.org -- New Guide From NETS Helps Parents Coach Teen Drivers
In celebration of National Teen Driver Safety Week, The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) has updated The Novice Driver's Road Map, An 8-Step Guide for Parents to take some of the worry about of supervising teens' driving practice.    The curriculum includes a series of eight drives, a Coach's game book, a log to track practice time, and a customizable parent-teen agreement.

October 19, 2012
gantdaily.com -- Tips Offered During National Teen Driver Safety Week
Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital and the Pediatric Trauma/Injury Prevention program remind Penn State students, and all teens in Happy Valley, to "Drive to Stay Alive." As part of the hospital's National Teen Driver Safety Week initiative, the hospital if offering a four-hour class for 16 to 19 year olds on ways to avoid being in a crash. To register, call (717) 531-3885.

October 18, 2012
The Sacramento Bee -- National Safety Council Announces Teen Driving Safety Leadership Awards
The National Safety Council NSC) will recognize ADEPT Driver and Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety as this year's recipients of its 4th Annual Teen Driving Safety Leadership Awards tomorrow at the NSC's Defensive Driving banquet during its Congress & Expo in Orlando. Supported by the General Motors Foundation, the awards recognize exceptional contributions that prevent car crashes, injuries, and deaths involving teen drivers.

October 17, 2012
Norwich Bulletin -- Our View: Tougher Teen Driving Are Laws Paying Off
This editorial reminds Connecticut citizens that it is National Teen Driver Safety Week and to continue the progress being made in their state to keep teen drivers -- and everyone else on the road -- safe. The editorial also provides the history of how Connecticut toughened its Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws and reminds parents to remain involved in the learning to drive process and beyond.

October 15, 2012
Fast Lane: The Official Blog of the U.S. Secretary of Transportation -- A Big Week for Road Safety as Two Key Efforts Coincide
In his blog, Ray LaHood, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, celebrates National Teen Driver Safety Week (NTDSW) and Operation Safe Driver Mobilization Week. To mark NTDSW, he reminds parents and caregivers to set and enforce safe driving ground rules with teens. The goal of The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's  Operation Safe Driver Mobilization Week is to help commercial vehicle drivers operate more safely and to educate all drivers on the risks involved with aggressive and distracted driving near large trucks and buses.

October 14, 2012
perezhilton.com -- Jordin Sparks, The Jonas Brothers, and Ford Team Up for National Teen Driver Safety Week!
To kick off National Teen Driver Safety Week, Ford Motor Co. recently held a Power of Youth event at the Paramount lot in Hollywood. On hand to share the message of "hands on the wheel, eyes on the road" were Jordin Sparks, the Jonas Brothers, and Drake Bell. Perez Hilton was there to capture the behind-the-scenes excitement of this informative day.
Click here for other Ford initiatives to promote teen driver safety October 14-20.

October 11, 2012
New York Times 'Wheels' Blog -- Study: Teenage Drivers' Propensity for Risky Behavior Rises With Number of Teenage Passengers
AAA released a study today that sheds light on the propensity for risky behavior when teen drivers carry peer passengers. The authors of the study found that the rate of speeding, drinking, and nighttime driving was higher among 16- and 17-year-old drivers involved in fatal crashes when peers were in the car. AAA released the study in advance of National Teen Driver Safety Week to draw attention to preventing crashes by limiting the number of  peer passengers.
Read the report.

October 10, 2012
kctv5.com -- New Publication Takes In-Depth Look at Improving Teen Driver Safety
The Governors Highway Traffic Safety Administration (GHSA) released a publication today that takes an in-depth look at state novice driver initiatives. Funded with a grant from State Farm, the publication covers six areas: strengthening Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws; enforcement of GDL laws by police officials; engaging parents in understanding, supporting, and enforcing GDL laws; strengthening driver education and training; engaging teens in understanding and addressing driving risks; and garnering consistent media coverage of teen driving.
Read the report.
Learn more about GDL.

October 9, 2012
New York Dept. of Health -- Speak Early, Speak Often About Teen Driving Safety: Teen Driving Safety Toolkit
The New York Partnership for Teen Driving Safety, the New York State Department of Health, and the New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee are conducting a statewide campaign during National Teen Driver Safety Week (October 14-20) to educate and empower parents of teen drivers to "Speak Early, Speak Often about Teen Driving Safety." To make it easy to conduct local campaigns, the toolkit includes social media messages, a press release, PSAs, educational materials for parents, and a sample proclamation that can be issued to declare National Teen Driver Safety Week in your town.

September 10, 2012
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration -- National Teen Driver Safety Week October 14-20, 2012 Lay Down the Rules
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has developed a multi-tiered strategy to prevent motor vehicle-related deaths and injuries among teen drivers: increasing seat belt use, implementing Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL), reducing teens' access to alcohol, and parental responsibility. Click here for more information and free resources for parents, teens, and stakeholders to share during National Teen Driver Safety Week and throughout the year.

July 30, 2012
National Public Radio 'Morning Edition' -- Cheer Up: It's Just Your Child Behind the Wheel
In this informative story on NPR's national drive time morning news show, Flaura Winston, MD, PhD, co-scientific director of the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at CHOP, shares why positive reinforcement from parents is far more effective than scare tactics when teaching teens to drive. This "Share, Not Scare" concept is also the theme of this year's National Teen Driver Safety Week.
Learn more about Messaging to Motivate.