October 16-22 is National Teen Driver Safety Week, a week dedicated to raising awareness and seeking solutions to prevent teen injuries and deaths on the road. In this webinar, the NTSB has invited leaders from national and international teen safe-driving programs and students to discuss four valuable strategies for teen driver safety advocacy:
- Peer to Peer Education
- Empowering Parents and Community Members
- Connecting Through Digital Media and Technology
- Grassroots Advocacy
Panelists will review best practices from advocacy case studies and offer proven, effective tools to help teens, teachers, community leaders, and practitioners connect with young people. The goal is to find effective, meaningful ways of influencing teens to make smart decisions to prevent teen driver crashes.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, traffic crashes continue to be a leading cause of death for teens. The risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among teens aged 16–19 than among any other age group. In fact, per mile driven, teen drivers in this age group are nearly three times as likely as drivers aged 20 or older to be in a fatal crash.
The NTSB has long advocated for preventive measures that would mitigate teen traffic crashes, including eliminating distractions, fatigue and impairment; reducing speeds; improving occupant protection; and implementing a robust graduated driver’s license (GDL) program. As we all work toward achieving zero traffic crashes on our roads, we must remember that it all begins with our earliest drivers—our teens.
Teen Driving Safety has been a topic on our Most Wanted List of Transportation Improvements.
Panelists:
Shaina Finkel - SADD National President, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD)
Rene Cabrera - National Vice President of Programs, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)
Kelly Browning, Ph.D - Executive Director, Impact Teen Drivers
Gail Schenbaum - Co-founder and President, In One Instant Teen Safe Driving
Ben Novotny - Pennsylvania SADD Student of the Year Emeritus, Pennsylvania Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD)
Jacob Smith - Regional Leader, Global Coalition for Road Safety
