November 18, 2009
Letter to the Editor
'Tis the Season for Safe Driving
With the holiday season just around the corner, the Community Parent Center believes it is important for parents to be extra careful when handing over the car keys to their new teen drivers. The time between Thanksgiving Day and New Year's Day is one of the busiest for travel, and newly licensed teens do not have enough experience they need to navigate through the heavy traffic and winter weather conditions.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of injury and death among teenagers. Driver error, speeding, passengers and distractions are the main causes of teen crashes, and can significantly impair a teen's ability to react quickly to changing traffic conditions. Driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs significantly increases teens' crash risks. The holiday season is an especially dangerous time for teen drivers. Over the last eight holiday seasons, teen drivers across America were involved in more than 5,000 fatal crashes between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.
Parents should not take anything for granted, make no assumptions and expect the unexpected when it comes to their teens' driving behaviors. Parents are the most important influence on their teens when it comes to risky behaviors, including substance abuse and driving. Parents must have a conversation with their teen drivers about safe and distraction-free driving. If they have already had this conversation with their teens, then now is a good time to reinforce the concerns and expectations. Parents should always be a good role model, and, remember: your actions are just as important as your words.
This is a crucial time for education, awareness and smart decision making. The Parent Center urges parents, school districts and communities all over Long Island to promote safe and responsible driving practices for our youth during this holiday season and throughout the year. One way to do this is to have teens take our "Driving in the Safe Lane Pledge." The pledge, developed by the Community Parent Center as an enhancement to the Driving in the Safe Lane program, which is funded by the Allstate Foundation, is a document to be signed by new and prospective teen drivers promising that they will drive safely and responsibly and abide by ten safe driving practices:
• Always wear your seatbelts - driver and all passengers
• Limit the number of passengers
• Restrict nighttime driving
• No alcohol or other drug use
• No cell phones or text messages
• Keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel
• Obey all traffic signs, signals and markings
• Know the driving laws
• Drive a safe vehicle
• Drive with safety in mind
This is the most important gift that parents and teens can share this holiday season. Remember: Driving is a privilege, not a right. When teens are handed the keys to a car, they are being given the responsibility for their safety, the safety of those who ride with them and those who share the road with them.
Wendy Tepfer
Director
Community Parent Center
