Set the Example; Put Your Cell Phone Away

ACROSS FLORIDA — A recent State Farm study revealed 3,255 teens ages 15 - 19 were involved in fatal crashes. Motor vehicle crashes continue to be the No. 1 cause of death among teens in the U.S.

Since 2007, State Farm, along with The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and members of Congress, have teamed up to designate the third week of October as National Teen Driver Safety Week (NTDSW), Oct. 20-26.

For this special week, State Farm analyzed its teen crash claims data and found that:

• Nationally, October continues to be the month with the most crash claims for sixteen and seventeen year-old drivers.
• In Florida, 9.7 % teen car accidents occur in October. Sixty-two percent of all states have October as one of their top three for teen crash claims.
• Most teen crashes occur around 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
• These trends may be linked to driving to and from school, autumn weather changes, and/or increased hours of darkness each day.

State Farm Teen driver safety tips and PSA:

Parents

• Set the example - You can’t always be in the car, but you can keep safety top-of-mind by demonstrating and enforcing habits like wearing a seat belt, not using a cell phone while driving and following the speed limit. Check out new PSA’s with a teen asking their parents: Mom:
  ; Dad:
  ; Full Version: https://youtu.be/4ftlI_7e1c8
• Connect with other parents - Speak directly with any parents supervising after-parties your teen will attend since some parents may allow underage drinking.
• Talk about (not) drinking/doing drugs – Talk to your teen about dealing with peer pressure, the dangers/repercussions of underage drinking and driving, using illegal substances, and contacting you for a ride in situations involving drugs or alcohol.
• Have the party come to you - Plan your own, adult-supervised, drug/alcohol free after - party at your house, school or local community center
• Graduated driver licensing (GDL) laws have been proven to be very effective in reducing teen crash rates. Understand and enforce the GDL law in your state.

Teens

• Groom before you zoom - Before it’s time to go, take one last look in the mirror and make sure you’re looking good so nothing takes your focus off the road while driving.
• Get your beauty rest - Since many parties last until early morning, make sure you get plenty or ask your parents to pick you up so you and your friends don't have to drive tired. Fatal car crashes involving teens happen significantly more at night.
• Set limits - Put a limit on the number of friends you ride with. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the risk of fatal crashes increases with each passenger. If riding with friends, remind them to put their phones away and turn the music down.
• Drive Sober- Drinking before the age of 21 is illegal, and alcohol and driving should never mix no matter your age. This goes for using drugs and other illegal substances as well.
• Seatbelts are the perfect accessory – Buckling your seatbelt can save your life and keep you from getting seriously injured. Plus, it’s the law

Additional Resources:

State Farm Teen Driving website: https://www.statefarm.com/simple-insights/auto-and-vehicles/teen

NTDSW Blog: https://newsroom.statefarm.com...