Spring and summer are the driving seasons for teens. With proms, graduations and vacation outings teens are on the road more than any other time of the year.  National Youth Traffic Safety Month is observed each May in an effort to educate, engage and empower teens and their parents to practice safe driving and to encourage their friends to do the same.

Safe Driving Tips for Teens

• Limit passengers: Too many people in the car can be distracting for new drivers.
• Know your car: It’s important to know ahead of time where your controls are and how they work. This includes headlights, wipers and turn signals. Fumbling for unfamiliar controls can cause accidents.
• No calls, no texts: If you absolutely have to call or text, safely pull over to the side of the road first or ask your passenger to do it for you.

Safe Driving Tips for Parents

• Know when they’re ready: Don’t force teens to drive if they’re uncomfortable with the idea. On the other hand, don’t let teens coerce you to let them drive if you think they’re not mature enough to handle the responsibility.
• Teens need practice: It’s important teens practice under your supervision as much as possible for you to give feedback. Practice all driving scenarios including crosswalk safety, school bus safety, railroad crossing safety and how to yield.
• Lead by example: Follow the rules of the road and teens are likely to do the same.  Stop at all stop signs, observe speed limit signs and adhere to all parking sign regulations.

To learn more about National Youth Traffic Safety Month visit NOYS.

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