WisDOT: Parental involvement a key factor in keeping teen drivers safe
During National Teen Driver Safety Week (October 20 – 26, 2019), officials with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) are asking teen motorists to be safety-conscious – while reminding parents and adult sponsors about the crucial role they play in enforcing and modeling safe driving behaviors.
Last year (2018) in Wisconsin, 29 teenagers (ages 16 – 19) were killed and 4,342 injured in traffic crashes. Teenagers account for less than 5 percent of all licensed drivers in Wisconsin – yet are involved in nearly 10 percent of all traffic crashes.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens 15 to 18 years old in the United States. In 2017, there were 2,247 people killed in crashes involving a teen driver (15-18 years old), of which 755 deaths were the teen driver – a 3 percent decrease from 2016. According to NHTSA, there were an estimated 93,000 teen drivers injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2017 and 293,000 people injured in crashes involving a teen driver – accounting for about 11 percent of all those injured that year.
Factors behind teen-related crashes
Officials with WisDOT’s Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and Division of State Patrol point to several reasons why teenagers are over-represented in traffic crashes:
· The main factor is they simply lack driving experience. They need time to learn about the various conditions and situations that can make driving a challenge.
· Teen drivers tend to take more risks. Speeding, failure to wear seat belts and impaired driving are among the risky behaviors. Teens often under-estimate driving dangers, and over-estimate their driving abilities.
· Teens are easily distracted by electronic devices or other passengers.
Studies strongly support the beneficial role of parental supervision in reducing teen crash rates, instances of distracted driving and driving under the influence while increasing seatbelt usage.
WisDOT’s DMV offers innovative tools
The Wisconsin DMV offers several tools to help parents and guardians foster safe and responsible teen driving habits. The online Motorists Handbook provides a comprehensive understanding of the operational rules for the road and is available in a variety of downloadable formats.
DMV has partnered with West Bend Mutual Insurance to provide the Parent’s Supervised Driving Program guidebook, an award-winning free resource, to students who receive their learner’s permit. The guidebook discusses 13 important driving skills, includes a parent-teen driving contract and a Supervised Driving Log that helps parents tally hours behind the wheel.