Teen Driving in the News:

11.01.07  Teaching your Teens to Drive--a free booklet from MetLife

  Connect with Kids, a website and community for parents, has release some great free video segments for teen drivers and their parents..  Check out Girls and Car Crashes , Text Messaging and Driving--a Bad Combination and Teens and Road Rage .

AAA study finds that states that have the strictist graduated licening laws for teen drivers have up to a 40% decrease in teen driving accidents and fatalties. Read the press release.   There are seven recommended area for the laws and states that have 5 or more of them are seeing the best results.

AAA released a study that teens are just as likely to have accidents in the after school times 3:00pm - 5:00pm Monday through Friday as their are on weekend evenings.  AAA suggests that parents monitor teen driving during these critical hours.  We have a lot of tips on this site--including our teen-parent contract to help teens be safer drivers..  Read the press release.

A Johns Hopkins Study has found that the states with the toughest graduated licensing requirements have a 20% reduction in teen fatalities for 16 year old drivers. And states that have graduated licensing have an average of 11% less fatalities for 16 year old teens.  Recommendations include 30 hours of supervised driving, night time restrictions, and restrictions on passengers in the car.  Read the press release. 

According to a Virginia Tech and National Highway Transportation Safety Administration study, distracted drivers accounted for 80% of the crashes in their study and 18-20 year olds were 4 times more likely to be involved in accidents. Read more about the study. Also, check our tips for avoiding distractions while driving.

Prom and Graduation Safety Tips With Prom and graduation season here, it’s a good time to think about ways to promote safe driving during these celebrations.  We hear from many teen and parent groups that they are planning special activities in their schools and communities to provide a safe place to celebrate.  Start an I Promise Program where teens take a pledge not to drink or use drugs and drive.  Some schools have a drawing for all the juniors and seniors who promise not to drink on Prom Night where they can win prizes from local merchants or a gift certificate to help pay for prom expenses.  Arrange for a limo to drive a group of teens to the prom and back. Teens, call your parents in case you get into a bad situation.  They'll come get you or help you get to a safe place. Don't get into the car with a driver who has been drinking, using drugs, or displaying wild behavior. Get teens involved with the planning for safe driving initiatives.   If you're in the Washington, D.C. Metro area, check out the special airing on WJLA Channel 7, Drive to Stay Alive on Sunday, May 4, 2008 at 7:00 PM.  Check out their website for more information.   Check out the videos from WJLA

Parallel parking is one of the most searched on terms on our site.  Ryan has collected some new tips for those trying to learn how to parallel park.

Be careful when backing up to make sure cars are not trying to pass you (also take caution when passing cars that are parallel parking)

Practice with cones or large boxes

When parallel parking on the left side of a one way street (or behind a car doing the same), take extra care, as most people are unfamiliar with this process

If you are uncomfortable with your angle of approach, pull back out and start over; do not force it.

When parking, try and leave the car in front of you space to get out of the spot.

If riding with a passenger, it's not a bad idea to have them direct you as it is often difficult to tell how much room you have behind you to another car.

When parallel parking upwards on a hill, turn your front wheels to the left and apply the emergency brake.

When parallel parking downwards on a hill, turn your front wheels to the right and apply the emergency brake.

Sometimes it easier to look for a spot you can pull straight into then try and get your car into a small parallel spot.

Your foot should always be on or right near the brake pedal, the gas is not needed.

If you are behind a car that is signaling to parallel park, either pass right away or give them plenty of room to operate.

See more parallel parking tips

Thanks to artist Jim Weicherding for sharing his teen safety posters with our teendriving community.

The SAFE And The SERIOUS Campaign

The Safe And The SERIOUS Campaign is a Teen Safe Driving Campaign designed to encourage safer driving  habits amongst teens and young adults across the US. This strong visual program is enhanced by creative efforts to get teens to drive safe and drive serious on roadways. The SAFE And The SERIOUS began in Rhode Island in the community of Burrillville with a colorful hand-painted  Buckle Up! Billboard at the exit of the high school. The billboard features a Tuner Car with the safety message in vibrant colors that remains on display all year long.

Data shows that seat belt usage increased with the students after The SafeAnd The SERIOUS Buckle Up! Billboard was put on display at their high school. Since then 14 more high schools and police departments now feature these safety billboards at their locations reminding teens and families to Buckle Up! and Drive Safe, Drive Serious every day. Many more high schools and police departments will begin featuring The SAFE And The SERIOUS Buckle Up! Billboards at the start of the 2008 - 2009 school year this fall and provide students with creative campaign safety items.

The SAFE And The SERIOUS Campaign now also features educational and awareness items for high schools and police departments that send the messages of safety through art, graphics and content created for teenagers. Black & White Posters, Tee-Shirts, Window Stickers for Cars and Trucks, Auto Litter Bags and Fridge Magnets as well as Informational Sheets are available to teen aged students. These items feature cool artwork and straight-forward safety messages that reach out to teens everywhere. The consistency of daily visuals is effective.

The SAFE And The SERIOUS Campaign was founded by RI. Artist and Illustrator, Jim Weicherding, who has received many awards and honors for his tireless creative efforts to try and keep kids, teens and families safer across the country with strong visuals & effective safety tip content.

Jim has received awards from NHTSA and SAFE KIDS for his dedication and hard work in regards to family safety.

You can see more of  Jim's safety posters at the sites below. Contact Jim

http://www.kidsafetyzone.com/jimmygto.htm

http://www.glocesterri.org/safe-serious.htm

http://www.risp.ri.gov/safekids

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