Nebraska DMV Combats No.1 Cause of Teen Deaths: Car Crashes
Nebraska DMV and The Parent’s Supervised Driving Program Celebrate Parents during National Teen Driver Safety Week
The Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and The Parent’s Supervised Driving Program announced today support for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) “5 to Drive” campaign. The campaign encourages parents to talk to their teen drivers about one critical safe driving practice each day during National Teen Driver Safety Week.
Crashes are the leading cause of death for 14-18 year olds in the US, according to NHTSA. In 2014 in Nebraska, there were 29 teen (15-19 year old) drivers involved in fatal crashes and another 2,115 that were injured. A recent survey shows that only 25% of parents have had a serious talk with their kids about the key components of driving.
“Even though your teens might be gaill.ing some independence and getting older, protecting them from harm shouldn’t stop now,” said Rhonda K. Lahm, Director of the Nebraska DMV. “The ‘5 to Drive’ campaign and The Parent’s Supervised Driving Program give parents the tools they need to educate their teen drivers in order to keep them safe.”
During National Teen Driver Safety Week (October 18-24) and every week of the year, the DMV urges parents to talk about safe driving practices, including “5 to Drive”:
No cell phones while driving
No extra passengers
No speeding
No alcohol
No driving or riding without a seat belt
The Nebraska DMV partnered with The Parent’s Supervised Driving Program to provide a comprehensive instructional tool aimed at helping parents teach their teens to drive. Throughout the year, program guidebooks are distributed to Learner’s Permit recipients at licensing centers and a mobile app, RoadReady®, is available to download from the App Store™. By making these resources available for free to parents and teens, thanks to support from sponsors, the DMV and The Parent’s Supervised Driving Program actively engage parents in the teen driver education process.
“The first six months of independent driving are the most dangerous that a driver will face in his or her lifetime,” says Jeff Larason, President of Safe Roads Alliance and Manager of The Parent’s Supervised Driving Program. “Experience is the most important element in the teen learning process and our guidebook and app focus on ensuring parents’ and teens’ go beyond the standard mechanics of operating a vehicle.”
National Teen Driver Safety Week was established by Congress in 2007 to focus attention on the number one killer of teens – car crashes. Held annually on the third week of October, the Nebraska DMV uses the week to raise awareness of teen driver safety issues and to highlight the important role parents/guardians play for young drivers.
The Parent’s Supervised Driving Program is sponsored by State Farm. More information for parents is available at www.theparentssuperviseddrivingprogram.com and at www.safcrcar.gov/parents.
Download the official news release
