Tips Offered During 'Teen Driver Safety Week'

The color white normally symbolizes "surrender," but this week it represents "white out teen crashes" as the state observes National Teen Driver Safety Week through Oct. 20.

Car accidents are the leading cause of death among teens in Florida, according to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Department. 

With more than 737,640 teens licensed to drive in the Sunshine State, teens ages 15-19 have the highest crash rate of any group in Florida. Last year, 25,848 teens were involved in crashes and 144 teens were killed.

The department says Florida's teen drivers are twice as likely to crash as their parents and three times as likely to crash as their grandparents.

To promote teen driving safety, the department as developed a website, Take the Wheel.net, featuring tips for teen drivers, videos on reckless driving habits such as texting while driving, a rules of the road quiz and interactive driving games. 

Teen drivers also can check out interactive simulations at Ford's Driving Skills for Life and AAA's Keys2Drive.

The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration also encourages parents to establish these firm rules for teen drivers:

1. Absolutely no alcohol
2. Always buckle up (this includes drivers and passengers)
3. No talking or texting on a cell phone while driving
4. Have the car in the driveway by 10 p.m.
5. No more than one passenger in the car at a time
6. Follow house rules or face parental consequences