MAY IS GLOBAL YOUTH TRAFFIC SAFETY MONTH

MAY IS GLOBAL YOUTH TRAFFIC SAFETY MONTH -

Wendy Tepfer, Executive Director, Community Parent Center

Merrick, New York May 5, 2015: The Community Parent Center, in cooperation with the Nassau County Traffic Safety Board, DEDICATEDD and State Farm Insurance, is joining thousands of youth safety organization across the United States during the ninth annual month of focus on youth traffic safety, Global Youth Traffic Safety Month.

Global Youth Traffic Safety Month (GYTSM) addresses the number one cause of death for youth in our country: motor vehicle crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 5,000 teens are killed and 300,000 are injured in passenger vehicle crashes a year.
• Teens ages 16-19 are at the highest risk
• Over 12% of fatal crashes are alcohol-related; 40% of these involve teenage drivers
• Driving with even one teen passenger doubles the risk of a crash
• Inexperience, speeding, and distracted driving are the leading causes of crashes among teenagers

It is easy to see how teen drivers can be a threat to themselves and everyone else on the road due to their lack of driving experience, feelings of invincibility and distractions like other teen passengers and cell phones. The 100 Deadliest Days for these teen crashes are from Memorial Day to Labor Day, when driving-related fatalities and injuries increase dramatically. Twice as many teens die on roads during summer months as compared to other times of year.
Global Youth Traffic Safety Month is a great opportunity to raise awareness of driving situations that could be potentially dangerous for teens; and empower youth to promote traffic safety. Here are some simple steps teenagers can take to protect themselves both as drivers and as passengers.
• ALWAYS wear a seatbelt
• OBEY the speed limit
• DO NOT drive with teen friends or younger siblings in the car
• ELIMINATE all distractions (texting, phone calls, eating, etc.)
• NEVER ride with an impaired driver (alcohol, other drugs)

Parents are the most important influence in keeping teenagers safe. Parents who set rules and monitor their teens’ driving can lower their teens’ crash risk by half. Allowing teens to drive is a privilege, not a right. Parents can take simple steps to protect their teens on the road:
• Set limits for high-risk situations: driving at night, during weekends, and in bad weather
• Restrict the number of passengers in the car
• Remind them that distractions are not allowed
• Sign a parent-teen driving contract to work together for safety
• Lead by example and drive safely and responsibly: Hang up, buckle up and obey all traffic laws

Global Youth Traffic Safety Month will raise awareness and help teens develop responsible driving attitudes. With the commitment of teens and their parents working towards the same goal, we hope to reduce deaths and injuries for teens behind the wheel across Long Island. By working together as a community, we can protect teenagers from becoming tragic statistics.

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Established in 1988, the Community Parent Center is Bellmore-Merrick’s resource center for quality parent and community education programs addressing safe teen driving, substance and alcohol abuse prevention, bullying/ harassment and youth violence prevention. The mission of the Parent Center is to provide parents and families with education, resource information and the support they need to raise resilient children who are safe, confident, non-violent and drug-free. The Parent Center is a not-for-profit 501(c) (3) organization, underwritten by private donations, grants and legislative appropriations. Information about programs and educational materials can be obtained by visiting the Community Parent Center Website at www.communityparentcenter.org, or by calling (516) 771-9346.