Teen Driver Deaths Increase in 2011. First Increase in Eight Years Raises Concerns

New Study: Teen Driver Deaths Increase in 2011. First Increase in Eight Years Raises Concerns

News Release - Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA)

Excerpt:

WASHINGTON, D.C.—A report released... by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) reveals that the number of 16- and 17-year-old driver deaths in passenger vehicles increased slightly for the first six months of 2011... Overall, 16- and 17-year-old driver deaths increased... 11 percent increase...

..."Troy E. Costales, Chairman of the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), said, “While it is good news that overall deaths appear to have declined during the first six months of 2011, we are concerned that the trend with teens is going in the opposite direction,” He continued, “As the report notes, a widespread strengthening of laws is still possible and finding effective tools outside of GDL is an important goal. These include improving driver education and involving parents in proactively establishing safe driving habits for their teens.”

Chairman Costales added, “As the parent of a young driver and a soon-to-be-driver, I know firsthand the pressures parents face in allowing their teens behind the wheel. As parents, we must set and enforce strict rules for our new drivers, making sure risks are minimized. This includes limiting other teens in the car, limiting nighttime driving and absolutely prohibiting any type of cell phone or electronic device use while driving...”

Read more here:

http://www.ghsa.org/html/media/pressreleases/2012/20120216_teens.html

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* Teenage Driver Fatalities by State: 2011 Preliminary Data
Published Feb. 2012

http://www.ghsa.org/html/publications/spotlight/teens2011.html

* Distracted Driving: What Research Shows and What States Can Do

http://www.ghsa.org/html/publications/sfdist.html

* Occupant Protection for Children - Best Practices Manual

http://www.ghsa.org/html/publications/OPC/index.html

* The Mission of the California Office of Traffic Safety is to effectively and efficiently administer traffic safety grant funds to reduce traffic deaths, injuries, and economic losses.

Texting/Talking While Driving - Crackdown on Distracted Driving

Crackdown on Distracted Driving

Join the Sheriff's Department's It's not Worth It campaign this February. Texting while driving is not only a danger to yourself, but to everyone else on the road around you. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finds drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves or others. Deputies will be out in force during this campaign period to ensure drivers are not engaging in this deadly behavior.

•The fine for a first offense of texting or using a hand-held cell phone while driving is $159 or more, with subsequent violations being much higher.

The Sheriff's Department encourages you to devote your full attention to driving when behind the wheel. Distracted driving - "It's not Worth It."