By News Reporter Gabby Cedano
Kentucky is joining a nationwide push to keep young drivers safe during National Teen Driver Safety Week from October 19 to October 25. The campaign, led by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and supported by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), urges parents to talk with their teens about smart choices and risks behind the wheel.
According to the KYTC Office of Highway Safety, over 48,000 car accidents involving teens have occurred over the past three years, leading to 13,000 injuries and 210 deaths. Nationally, car crashes remain the leading cause of death for teens.
To help prevent future tragedies, Kentucky continues to promote hands-on safety programs, such as the Safe Teen Driving Challenge, Ford Driving Skills for Life and Kentucky Checkpoints, which help parents guide new drivers through the state’s Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system.
KYTC Secretary Jim Gray says experience is key to becoming a safe driver, but he believes that parents can make a big difference by setting clear rules and modeling good habits.
Officials remind teens to stay focused while driving, always wear a seat belt, limit the number of passengers, obey speed limits, never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs and get plenty of rest before getting behind the wheel.
Families can learn more about safe driving programs at safekentucky.org.