Sergeant John Maxwell, head of the City of Goleta’s Motor Traffic Unit, and the Goleta Police Department, encourages parents to teach their teen drivers to be a safe driver during National Teen Driver Safety Week (October 20 – 26, 2019), and every day thereafter. If they can’t handle the rules of the road, they can’t handle the keys to the car.

National Teen Driver Safety Week is a great opportunity to talk with your teen driver about the importance of safe driving. In fact, you can keep the conversation going all year long!  Parents, it doesn’t matter whether your teen drives a car, pickup truck, or SUV — the rules of the road stay the same no matter what. Talk to them about driving safety during National Teen Driver Safety Week.

• In 2017, there were 2,247 people killed in crashes involving a teen driver. Statistics show that drugs and alcohol, inconsistent seat belt use, distracted driving, speeding, and extra passengers are contributing factors to teen driver vehicle crashes.
• Any teenager is too young to buy or consume alcohol, but some still find a way. In fact, during 2017, 15% of teen drivers involved in fatal crashes had been drinking. Also keep in mind that impairment does not just mean alcohol. Talk with your teens about the dangers of driving under the influence of marijuana, THC vapes, or other drugs.
• Seat belts are a simple way to stay safe in any vehicle. Parents should remind their teen drivers to buckle up — every trip, every time — and to make sure their passengers do too.
• Safe driving requires 100% attention, so remind your teen driver to keep distractions out of the vehicle. Speeding is also especially deadly for teen drivers; in 2017, 27% of teen drivers involved in fatal crashes were speeding at the time of the crash.
• Enforce a passenger maximum for your teen driver. Research shows the risk of a fatal crash goes up in direct relation to the number of passengers in a car.

Thank you for doing your part for National Teen Driver Safety Week.