(336) 832-3939
Vehicle & Teen Driving Safety
While driving facilitates independence for both older adults and teens, both groups face heightened risks: seniors due to physical fragility and teenagers due to inexperience and risk-taking. By recognizing these specific vulnerabilities, families can adopt proactive safety measures to reduce accidents and ensure safer driving habits across generations.
Teen Driving Safety
Motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States. A combination of inexperience and risk-taking behaviors makes young drivers especially vulnerable on the road. By understanding risk and protective factors, parents and teens can take proactive steps to ensure safer driving habits.
Key Statistics
-
In 2023 there were 2,148 young drivers who died in traffic crashes and another 180,209 who were injured
-
Over 5,500 people died in traffic crashes involving young drivers in 2023.
-
Of the young drivers killed in traffic crashes, 54% were not wearing a seat belt.
-
Young male drivers are nearly 3 times more likely to be involved in fatal traffic crashes than young female drivers.
-
In 2023, 26 percent of young drivers killed in traffic crashes had blood alcohol concentrations of .08 g/dL or higher.
Risk Factors
Several factors contribute to the elevated crash risk for teen drivers:
-
Driver Inexperience: New drivers lack the necessary skills for hazard detection and judgment, making them prone to errors, with the highest crash risk occurring in the first year of licensure.
-
Driving with Teen Passengers: Having teen passengers increases crash risk for unsupervised teen drivers, with the risk of a fatal crash more than tripling with two or more teen passengers.
-
Nighttime Driving: Reduced visibility and fatigue make nighttime driving particularly dangerous for teens.
-
Distracted Driving: Activities like using a phone or adjusting the radio are major causes of crashes in this age group.
-
Speeding: Teens are more likely to speed and follow too closely, with speeding being a factor in 34% of fatal teen driver crashes in 2023.
-
Impaired Driving: Alcohol or drug use impairs judgment and reaction time.
Ways to Lower Risk
Parents play a vital role in helping teens become safe drivers through clear rules, supervised practice, and setting a good example.
-
Use NC’s Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Law: Understand and enforce NC’s GDL law, which restricts high-risk driving conditions for new drivers.
-
Create a Parent-Teen Driving Agreement: Use a written agreement to establish driving rules and consequences. Parent/Teen Driving Agreement
-
Maximize Supervised Practice: Ensure your teen gets plenty of supervised driving practice in various conditions.
.png)
-
Mandate 100% Seat Belt Use: Require seat belt use for everyone in the vehicle on every trip, as it significantly reduces the risk of fatality in a crash.
-
Eliminate Distractions: Prohibit cell phone use while driving and encourage the use of "do not disturb" features.
-
Prevent Impaired Driving: Emphasize that driving under the influence is unacceptable and ensure your teen can call you for a safe ride if needed.
-
Be a Role Model: Drive safely yourself, following traffic laws and avoiding distractions, as teens learn from their parents' behavior.
Education
We are available to present Impact Teen Drivers: What Do You Consider Lethal?, a 1-hour presentation on teen driving safety for high school classrooms. Additionally, we are available to present Under Your Influence, a 45-minute interactive presentation for parents. Parents are the number one influencer of their teens’ attitudes and behaviors. Parent’s choices can and do influence their teen’s safety behind the wheel. Impact Teen Drivers’ programs are interactive, and they share real stories that connect with teens, empowering them with evidence-based strategies to keep themselves and others safe. These programs never use scare tactics. Instead, the programs are designed to connect on an emotional level which has proven to be more effective.
Community Event
We are available to table at community events.
Older Adult Driving Safety
Driving helps older adults maintain mobility and independence, but the risk of injury or death in a traffic crash increases with age, primarily due to increased vulnerability to injury.
.png)
Key Facts & Risks
-
Injury and Death Rates: Each day, 25 older adults are killed and over 740 are injured in crashes. Drivers aged 70+ have higher crash death rates per 1,000 crashes than middle-aged drivers (aged 35-54).
-
Vulnerability: Higher crash death rates in older adults are mainly due to increased fragility and vulnerability to injury in a crash.
-
Age-Related Changes: Declines in vision, physical functioning, and cognitive abilities (reasoning and memory), as well as the effects of diseases and medications, can all affect driving skills).
Key Safety Tips
While older adults are often safer drivers who limit risky behaviors (like drinking and driving), taking proactive steps is essential to stay safe on the road:
-
Wear a Seat Belt: Always wear a seat belt as a driver or passenger, as it's one of the most effective ways to reduce injuries in a crash).
-
Time Your Drives: Drive during daylight and in good weather, as poor weather and night driving increase crash likelihood.
-
Health Management:
-
Have your eyes checked by an eye doctor at least once a year.
-
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review all medicines (prescription and over-the-counter) for side effects and interactions that could impair driving.
-
Follow a regular activity program to increase strength and flexibility.
-
-
Driving Habits:
-
Avoid distractions like a loud radio, phone use, or eating.
-
Leave a large distance between your car and the car in front of you.
-
Plan your route ahead, looking for well-lit streets and intersections with left-turn signals.
-
-
Alternative Transportation: Consider alternatives to driving, such as riding with a friend, using ride share services, or taking public transit.
Contact
Contact us to learn more about vehicle and teen driving safety and our injury prevention initiatives, designed to promote responsible practices and enhance community well-being.