Protect teen drivers: Talk to them about the ‘5 to Drive’ | Guest op
Published 4:36 pm Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for our young people in the United States. In 2014 in Washington State, there were 530 serious injury crashes and 147 fatalities among drivers ages 16 to 25.
And 2014 is not an anomaly. Because of these sustained numbers, Washington state has taken steps to implement policy and laws to protect our young people. The Intermediate Driver’s License (IDL) program is one of those steps, and it is aimed at preventing these tragedies.
Parents, if you have young drivers in your home, talk to them about road risks. Don’t assume they won’t listen or think they are hearing about these life-saving rules at school or in driver’s education. You are the No. 1 influence over your young person and the decisions they make. Start talking to them today and talk often.
Oct. 18-24 is Teen Driver Safety Week. Across the United States and here in Washington, we’ll educate young people about roadway dangers. Officers will be enforcing traffic laws to reduce speeding and impaired driving. And we hope you, parents, will take the opportunity to talk to your kids about the importance of IDL and the national campaign “5 to Drive.”
“5 to Drive” focuses on the factors that contribute to the crashes that seriously injure or kill our young people. Remembering the “5 to Drive” every time your teen drives will instill traffic safety for them, your family, and all of us.
Here are the “5 to Drive”:
1. No drinking and driving. Compared with other age groups, teen drivers are at greater risk of death in alcohol-related crashes, even though they’re too young to legally buy or possess alcohol.
2. Buckle Up. Every Trip. Every Time. Front Seat and Back. Traffic data show our young people are not buckling up and neither are their passengers.
3. Zero cellphone use or texting. Studies have shown that when driving at 55 mph, sending a basic text message takes the driver’s eyes off the road for the length of an entire football field.
4. No speeding. Crash dynamics come into play here. The faster you go; the worse off everyone is in a crash. Honor the speed limits. They are there for a reason.
5. No extra passengers in the car. Research shows that the risk of a fatal crash goes up in direct relation to the number of teens in a car. And, the likelihood of risky behavior goes up too.
I have teenage sons. I worry about their safety every time they get into a car. What’s important to remember is that there are laws to keep them, and all of us, safer, on our roadways. Officers enforce these laws because they have been proven to increase our safety.
Also, don’t forget the role you play in setting the example. Parents, set the example by following these “5 to Drive” rules too.
For more information about Teen Driver Safety Week, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website at www.safercar.gov/parents.
Washington State has been a leader in traffic safety across our country and continues to update the statewide highway safety plan, Target Zero: “0” serious injuries and fatalities on our roadways by 2030. Help us get there. Talk to your young driver today and practice safe driving habits always.
Ken Thomas is chief of the Kent Police Department. Reach him at 253-856-5200 or kthomas@kentwa.gov.
