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Involved parents may hold key to safe driving for teenagers

It should come as no surprise that mom and dad may know more about motor vehicles and highway safety than their teenagers.

National Teen Driver Safety Week, Oct. 17-22, offers parents and others an opportunity to remind the nation’s youngest drivers that driving safely is their most important task when behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. This year’s theme is “supporting parents as their teenagers navigate the practice driving phase.”

“We’re seeing that more parent involvement with teenagers during this period of time leads to fewer crashes involving teens ,” said Margaret Goertz, youthful driver program coordinator with the ITD’s Office of Highway Safety.

A recent American Automobile Association (AAA) Foundation study used in-vehicle cameras to monitor teenagers who were learning to drive with parents, followed by the first six months of licensed driving without their parents in the car.

The study showed changes in teenage behavior when a parent was no longer in the car. While most driving caught on camera was uneventful, the study did capture a number of close calls due to simple mistakes likely attributable to inexperience. The study also showed instances of texting behind the wheel, horseplay with passengers, running red lights and other potentially distracting or dangerous behaviors.

ITD provides young drivers and their parents an online resource that supports the practice of safe driving among young adults and a way to learn more about responsible driving.

The website, at www.idahoteendriving.org, provides resource links and information about safe driving for teenage drivers, young adult drivers, parents and even children, who eventually might become drivers.

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for U.S. teenagers, accounting for more than one in three deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

ITD statistics show more than 62,000 licensed drivers ages 15-19 for 2010. Last year, nearly one out of every four crashes statewide involved a driver from that age group.

Inattention or distractions, failure to yield and speeding are top three contributors to motor-vehicle crashes in Idaho.

“The aim of Idaho Teen Driving is to encourage safe driving among young adults, educate them about risky driving behaviors, and reduce their chances of being in a crash,” Goertz explained.

The website also provides links to Alive at 25 courses taught throughout the state by law enforcement officers. Classes are enrolling in Orofino and Boise for Monday (Oct. 17), in Nampa on Oct. 22 and in Post Falls on Oct. 26. November classes still are available in Rexburg, Mountain Home and Post Falls.

Goertz encourages parents to provide their teenage drivers with clear rules and consequences when operating a motor vehicle, like always wear seat belts, no cell phone use while driving, no alcohol or drugs, no more than one passenger at all times and having the car in the driveway by 10 p.m.