NHTSA Announces “5 To Drive” To Promote Safety For Teen Drivers

The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration announced a new campaign last week, “5 to Drive,” to
reduce the high rate of teen driver deaths. The campaign challenges parents to
discuss driver safety with their children. The announcement coincided with
National Teen Driver Safety Week, which took place October 20-26. 

“Safety is our
highest priority, especially when it comes to teens, who are often our least
experienced drivers,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.
“The ‘5 to Drive’ campaign gives parents and teens a simple,
straightforward checklist that can help them talk about good driving skills and
most importantly, prevent a tragedy before it happens.”

 The
“5 to Drive” campaign encourages parents to visit 
www.safercar.gov/parents/teendriving and
discuss with their teens one safety topic each day during national teen driver
safety week. The “5 to Drive” campaign topics are:

 

1.     
No cell phone use or texting while
driving,

2.     
No extra passengers,

3.     
No speeding,

4.     
No alcohol, and

5.     
No driving or riding without a seat
belt.

These probably appear to be fairly
obvious safety considerations for all drivers, but teens can be forgetful and
cavalier when they begin driving and it is important to continue to remind them
of these very easy things to do before getting behind the wheel.

If you or someone you love has been
injured in a Chicago car crash or Chicago truck accident, then call Chicago car accident attorney, Aaron Bryant, for a free consultation at 312-588-3384. 

Traffic Accidents Are Highest Cause Of Deaths For Teens In The U.S.

 Yesterday in Will County, Illinois, which is just South of Chicago, there was a report of fourteen students who all died in a tragic car accident. This is depressing news and is definitely hitting that community hard. Unfortunately, this is not some outlier or random event in this United States. As the Los Angeles Times reported yesterday, car deaths outpaced homicides, suicides and accidental poisonings for teenagers in this country. 

The federal statistics show that in 2010, an average of seven people aged 16 to 19 died every day from motor vehicle injuries. Per mile driven, drivers ages 16 to 19 are three times more likely than drivers aged 20 and older to be in a fatal car crash. If you are a car accident lawyer who would like to help victims of car crashes, you may contact an attorney recruiter to find you a firm that can use your expertise.

The question remains, what can parents and lawmakers do about this issue? First, as I have written about dozens of times, there need to be stricter penalties for texting and driving. Specifically, the punishment should include points against someone’s driver’s license if they are caught texting and driving, and the threat of jail time if someone is injured in a car crash. Another idea, which I have talked about before, would include a longer permit period and stronger testing for teen drivers, which would involve more safety courses. I know it is wishful thinking to believe these measures would wipe out the problem of teen traffic deaths, but it is a start. 

If you or someone you love has been injured in a Chicago car accident or Chicago truck accident, or have a wrongful death case, then call Chicago personal injury attorney Aaron Bryant for a free consultation at 312-588-3384.