Set rules for young drivers hitting the road

ITD encourages parents of all teenage drivers to set some rules before their teens hit the road.

National Teen Driver Safety Week (Oct. 20-26) offers parents and others an opportunity to remind the nation’s youngest drivers about the risks of the road and the need for rules when behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.

This year’s theme, “5 to Drive,” offers five rules for parents to share with their teenage drivers.

1. No cell phones while driving
2. No extra passengers
3. No speeding
4. No alcohol
5. No driving or riding without a seat belt

A recent survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) showed that only about 25 percent of parents have serious talks with their teenagers about the key components of safe driving. The “5 to Drive” campaign is designed to address the major contributing factors in fatal crashes involving teenagers.

“ITD offers 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,” said Margaret Goertz, youthful driver program coordinator with ITD’s Office of Highway Safety.

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.

ITD statistics show more than 62,000 licensed drivers ages 15-19 for 2012. This age group comprised 5.7 percent of all licensed drivers in Idaho but accounted for nearly 14 percent of drivers in fatal and injury crashes.

“The aim of Idaho Teen Driving is to encourage safe driving among young adults, educate them about risky driving behaviors, and eliminate their chances of being in a crash,” Goertz explained. “One way to help your teenager is to encourage registering for an Alive at 25 class.”

The website provides links to the Alive at 25 classes taught throughout the state by law enforcement officers.

The Parent’s Supervised Driving Program is another safe driving resource that is designed to optimize the 50 hours (10 at night) of supervised driving teenagers are required to complete with parents before receiving their license. The program and support material were made possible by a public-private partnership with Ford Motor Company, ITD and the State Department of Education
 
The program encourages supervised driving in a variety of weather conditions, on different road types, including rural roads, highways, city streets and heavy traffic routes, and during different times of day. Increased experience driving with parents is a key to reducing teen-crash rates.

Log books for recording supervised driving hours are available at all county drivers licensing offices and at the Department of Motor Vehicle Office in Boise

More information on the program is available at:  www.theparentssuperviseddrivingprogram.com .

Published 10-18-13