STOPPING THE #1 KILLER OF TEENS IN AMERICA

TOO MANY TEENS ARE DYING Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 killer of teens in America About 3,500 teens per year are killed in traffic crashes in the U.S. and nearly 500,000 are injured (Source: NHTSA, FARS data)

It’s like commercial airliners full of teens

THE HIGHEST RISKS Driver inexperience, coupled with the following situations / conditions: 1. Driving at night / tired 2. Speeding and street racing 3. Distractions, such as cell phones and other teen passengers 4. Low seat belt use 5. Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs (Source: National Safety Council, 2007)

DRIVING AT NIGHT 61% of teen crash deaths occur between 6pm and 6am (Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) Driving visibility is significantly reduced at night Teens need 9.25 hours per sleep, yet get an average 7.4 hours per night (Source: National Sleep Foundation, 2006 study)

DROWSY DRIVING More than half of all fall-asleep crashes involve young drivers (Source: National Sleep Foundation, Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, 2007) 62% of 11 th graders and 68% of 12 th graders say they drive while drowsy (Source: National Sleep Foundation, 2006 Study) Being awake for 20 hours has the same affect as being legally drunk (Source: National Sleep Foundation, 2006 Study)

DISTRIBUTION OF DRIVER “FALL ASLEEP” CRASHES BY AGE NCHRP Report 500, Volume 19, 2007: A Guide for Reducing Collisions Involving Young Drivers

SPEEDING In 2009, 39% of teen male drivers and 24% of female teen drivers involved in fatal crashes were speeding (Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, Speeding, 2009 Data) When there are teen passengers, teen drivers tend to drive faster (Source: National Institute Health and Westat) Teens are more likely to speed after they have been drinking (Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, Speeding, 2009 Data)

THREE MAIN TYPES OF DISTRACTIONS Visual — taking your eyes off the road Manual — taking your hands off the wheel Cognitive — taking your mind off what you’re doing

DEADLY DISTRACTIONS More teen fatal crashes occur when passengers (often other teens) are in the car (Source: NHTSA, Teen Unsafe Driving Behavior: Focus Group Final Report, 2006) 2 out of 3 teens that died as passengers were in vehicles driven by other teens (Source: NHTSA, Teen Unsafe Driving Behavior: Focus Group Final Report, 2006) Photo by Aaron Dieppa

IMPACT OF TEEN PASSENGERS ON TEEN DRIVERS

CELL PHONE USE & TEXTING Drivers talking on a cell are 4 times more likely to be in a crash (Source: New England Journal of Medicine) Teens engage in complex, non-driving tasks more frequently than adults (Source: VTTI, 2009) Texting is the new DWI - “intexticated”

SAFETY BELT USE 64% of teens, aged 13 to 20, killed were not buckled up at the time of the crash (Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, 2009) Teens wear their safety belts less than other drivers (Source: NHTSA, Teen Unsafe Driving Behavior: Focus Group Final Report, 2006) Males and pickup truck drivers are the least likely to wear safety belts (Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, 2009)

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE Drinking and driving is involved in 13% of 16- year-old driver crashes Drivers are less likely to use restraints and more likely to speed when they have been drinking When young drivers drink and drive they are five times more likely to crash than someone over 21 years of age and twenty times more likely if there are other teens in the vehicle (Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, 2009)

TEXAS LAWS YOU SHOULD KNOW… Night driving, passengers now restricted for first year of driving Talking/texting on cell prohibited for all drivers under 18 No cell use in school zones, regardless of age All drivers, passengers must buckle up – front or back Driving test required at end of driver education course It is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to drive with any detectable amount of alcohol in their system. Up to $500 fine, 60- day driver’s license suspension, 20 to 40 hours community service, mandatory alcohol awareness classes

GEORGIA LAWS YOU SHOULD KNOW… No night driving between midnight – 6am under 18 First 6 months, no passengers; Second 6 months, no more than one passenger under 21; thereafter, no more than three passengers until age 18 Talking on cell prohibited for all under 18 No texting, regardless of age All passengers under 17 must be secured, 18 and over must be secured in the front seat 40 hours (including 6 hours at night) of supervised driving hours required

CALIFORNIA LAWS YOU SHOULD KNOW… No night driving between 11pm – 5am under 17 Talking on cell prohibited for all under 18 No texting, regardless of age First 12 months, no passengers under 20 All drivers, passengers must buckle up – front or back 50 hours of supervised driving hours required

SAFE DRIVING PLEDGE I make this pledge both bold and brave, so someone’s life I will help to save. Watch my speed, stay awake and know the difference a drink can make. Buckle up and avoid distractions – like texting, cell phones – such deadly actions. Golden rules, simply five. Strive to keep our drive alive.

STOPPING THE #1 KILLER OF TEENS IN AMERICA