Our Kansas City roads are busy, and for teen drivers —especially those still gaining experience—safe driving is a skill that takes time and practice to develop. Whether a new driver or a parent guiding one, these essential safety habits can help reduce a teen’s risk and build lasting confidence behind the wheel.
Earning a driver’s license marks an exciting milestone for teens. Along with that comes a new level of responsibility. Parents and other adults play a crucial role in shaping safe driving habits by modeling responsible behavior for teen drivers.
Are you familiar with Missouri’s Graduated Driver License (GDL) law? It is a three-step licensing process designed to help inexperienced teen drivers acquire the skills needed to be responsible drivers and make the road safer for all drivers.
Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death among teenagers in the United States. The good news? With the right guidance and awareness, your teen driver can become safer behind the wheel. Educate them about the eight critical danger zones identified by the CDC—each representing a major factor contributing to teen car accidents.
For teen drivers, inexperience and peer pressure often lead to poor decisions when driving. Teen drivers also face other challenges when behind the wheel, ones that can increase their risk of an accident. The five most common and deadly include:
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens.
“In 2016, 2,433 teens in the United States ages 16–19 were killed and 292,742 were treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor vehicle crashes. That means that six teens ages 16–19 died every day due to motor vehicle crashes and hundreds more were injured.”
Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for teen drivers (ages 15- to 20-year-olds). Teach your teens about potential hazards on the road; make sure your teen knows how to spot a drunk driver.
