Teen driver safety
Car crashes are the leading cause of death and injury for teens in Washington. Most of these crashes are caused by teens who are distracted, speeding, or impaired by drugs or alcohol. However, parents and teens can do a lot to reduce the chances of being in a car crash.
Distracted driving
Read a transcript of the video.
Eyes off the road can change lives forever. New drivers with instruction permits or intermediate licenses can't use any wireless device — even hands-free — while operating a vehicle, unless they're reporting an emergency.
More on distracted driving
- It Can Wait: Promotes no texting while driving. (itcanwait.com)
- Distracted driving can kill: Facts about distracted driving in Washington
- www.distraction.gov (U.S. government)
- Distracted driving (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Safety on the road: Distracted driving (National Safety Council)
- Music video: It Can Wait (Partners for Safe Teen Driving — Virginia)
- DOL Target Zero (doltargetzero.org)
- Preventing Distracted Driving: A Comprehensive Resource (ratesforinsurance.com)
Resources
Driving practice
- Washington Driver Guide: Laws, rules, and techniques for safe driving.
- Safe-Driving Agreement: Establishes safe-driving rules for parents and teens.
- Washington Parent Guide to Teen Driving: Tips on how to supervise driving practice
- Intermediate License Logbook: Used for recording your behind-the-wheel driving practice (Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction)
For parents
- teendriversource (Center for Injury Prevention, and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute)
- For Parents: Partners for Safe Teen Driving (State of Virginia)
- Driver training programs: Tips for choosing a driver training program and finding scholarships.
- Keys2Drive (AAA)
For teens
- teendriversource (Center for Injury Prevention, and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute)
- Keys2Drive for Teens (AAA)
- For Teens: Partners for Safe Teen Driving (State of Virginia)
- Getting a license—Teens: Steps for getting a license, and details about special rules for teen drivers
"Parents are the Key" campaign
Resources for parents or groups who want to play a role in teen driver safety (Centers for Disease Control)
- "Parents are the Key" website (cdc.gov)
- Free materials: Posters, factsheets, and flyers (cdc.gov)
- Parents Are the Key to Safe Teen Drivers videos (cdc.gov)
- Tips for businesses and community groups (cdc.gov)
- Pediatricians and Safe Teen Driving: Materials specifically designed for pediatricians, developed in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics (cdc.gov)
