- Massachusetts Department of Transportation
The initial years of learning to drive are critical to building a solid foundation of safe driving habits. It’s time to get those important conversations started with your teen to ensure a safer driving experience that will benefit you, your teen, and everyone else on the road.
October 16-22 is National Teen Driver Safety Week. For 15-18- year-olds, the greatest dangers in the vehicle while driving include alcohol consumption, inconsistent or no seat belt use, distracted driving, speeding, and driving with passengers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Now is a great time to review safe driving habits with your teen. NHTSA shares facts about teen driver fatalities that are informative about teen driving safety:
- Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for teens (15-18 years old) in the United States
- In 2020, there were 2,276 people killed in crashes involving a teen passenger vehicle driver (15-18 years old), of which 748 deaths were the teen passenger vehicle driver
- 19% of teen passenger vehicle drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2020 had alcohol in their system
- In 2020, almost half (52%) of the teen passenger vehicle drivers who died in crashes were unbuckled
Driving is a new and exciting step in your teen’s life. The rules, advice, and lessons you share with your teen could prevent them from being in a crash. NHTSA reminds parents to keep the following in mind when discussing driving safety with your teen:
- From October 16-22, encourage your teen to join other teens and parents across the country in a national dialogue for National Teen Driver Safety Week
- Get the facts and use them to make sure your teen and their friends are safe drivers and respectful passengers
- Be sure you are aware of your state’s graduated driver licensing laws regarding transporting passengers, driving at night, and other key safety areas
- Remind your teen that driving is a privilege, not a right, and must always be taken seriously
The rules of the road are critical to start instilling in your teen as they begin their new journey of independence. Below are some rules from NHTSA to remember to include in your discussion with your own teen:
- Don’t drive impaired
- Buckle up - Every Trip, Every Time
- Keep your eyes on the road, hands on the wheel, and mind on the task of driving
- Follow the posted speed limit
- Limit passengers
MassDOT’s Highway Assistance Program sponsored by MAPFRE Insurance is on patrol to help all motorists on the highways. Patrol operators monitor some of the state’s busiest highways around Metro Boston, Worcester, Springfield and Cape Cod (seasonal). The Highway Assistance Patrol covers 13 major state roadways and interstates, the Emergency Service Patrol covers the Mass Pike (I-90) from New York to Boston and the Incident Response Operators cover the Metropolitan Highway System and tunnels. The Highway Assistance Patrol is in service Monday–Friday between the hours of 6 a.m.–10 a.m. and 3 p.m.–7 p.m. During holidays, there are extended routes in heavy traffic areas. On I-90, and in Boston’s tunnel system, assistance is provided 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.
Written By
Your friends at MAPFRE Insurance
