The week of October 21-27, 2018 is National Teen Driver Safety Week, and the Ventura Police Department wants to remind parents and guardians the importance of talking to their teen drivers about new responsibilities and rules that come with operating a vehicle. If you are interested in finding out more about traffic safety, you may want to check this traffic school florida online.
For teens, getting a license is a rite of passage tied to freedom and independence, but is also something that can be dangerous because teens lack experience behind the wheel and are more likely to take risks, said Traffic Sergeant Michael Brown. National Teen Driver Safety Week is a way to encourage all parents to instill good driving habits that help their teens stay safe on the road.
Car accidents can have devastating consequences, especially if anyone involved is seriously injured. The cost of medical expenses after car accident can be high, so the best course of action to prevent accidents on the road is to educate people about driving safety.
Above all, the reality is that vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for teens ages 15 to 18. According to data from the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 73,736 crashes in 2016 involving drivers 16 to 20 years old in California alone. In those crashes, 437 people were killed.
Throughout the week the Ventura Police Department will join the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) in offering tips to parents and caregivers on how to talk to teens about the consequences of making dangerous and illegal choices behind the wheel.
Graduated Driver License (GDL):Learn about Californias GDL laws, which place restrictions on passengers and driving late at night during the first year they have a license.
Lead by example: Practice safe driving yourself. Have practice driving sessions with your teen.
Set Ground Rules: No cell phones, no passengers, no speeding, no alcohol, no drowsy driving, and always buckle up. No keys until they know the rules. Establish consequences you will enforce if your teen breaks the rules.
With driving comes great responsibility: Remind your teen that driving requires your full attention. Texts and phone calls can wait. Teach them about zero-tolerance laws, and the adult consequences they face for driving after drinking or using drugs. Urge them to never ride with someone who has been drinking or using drugs. It should be noted that young adults that aren’t of age to drink legally can always still research into how they go about how to get a fake id, so if you feel your teen may not be drinking and driving due to their age, it is always worth considering the potential. After all, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Whether its drinking and driving, not wearing a seat belt, speeding, driving distracted or with friends in the car, its important for parents to let their teen know that driving is not a right, but a privilege, said Traffic Corporal Al Gomez. It can be taken away when they dont follow the rules.
To learn more about teen driver safety, visit the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) website at http://ghsa.org/html/issues/teens/index.html.
