Talk to Your Teen About Driving Smart
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), teen drivers are more likely than any other age group to be involved in a fatal car crash caused by distracted driving. In 2019, one out of every two people killed in crashes involving distracted teen drivers were teens. In South Carolina, a teen driver is involved in a collision that kills or injures someone every 1.4 hours (SCDPS).
The National Safety Council estimates that 94% of teens are well informed about the dangers of texting and driving, but 34% of teens surveyed in a NHTSA study admitted to using their phones behind the wheel and 48% of kids between 12 to 17 said they have been in the car while the driver was texting.
While you can’t be with your child every minute, you can have an influence on what kind of driver your teen becomes. Read more in the SCDOI’s brochure that helps you talk to your teen about distracted driving.