New campaign helps parents talk to teen drivers
In honor of National Teen Driver Safety Week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) is launching “5 to drive” which provides parents with talking-points for discussing safe driving. The checklist focuses on five risk factors strongly correlated to teen accidents – texting/cell use while driving; teen passenger distractions; speeding; alcohol; and lack of seatbelt use. NHTSA has also released a new online monthly news letter, Safety in Numbers.
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Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) – press release
Should teens have special license plates?
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is selling license plate stickers that indicate the driver is a teen. The new seals – sold for $20 sold at local Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) offices – feature a bright red triangle and the words “Teen Driver; Please Be Courteous.”
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Source: 16-WNEP Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
When it comes to teen drivers, is the government going too far?
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety recently released a study indicating parents are overwhelmingly in support of additional restrictions for teen drivers. Many states are now considering new laws. In Ohio, for example, the Statehouse is considering a bill that sets a 10pm curfew and restricts the number of non-family-member passengers for drivers under 18.
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Source: NBC 4
Teens don’t care about getting their driver’s license, new study says
A new report by the Highway Loss Data Institute indicates a significant drop in the number of high school seniors carrying driver’s licenses. Potential causes include the economic recession and the growth of social media, which teens use in place of in-person interaction.
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Source: Washington Post
And now for something different …
Animals are making traffic news:
- Confused bear causes traffic to crawl Read more
- Archives show cats had special crossing privileges at the turn of the century Read more
- Subaru prioritizes crash-test technology that makes cars safer for dogs Read more
Image source: State Farm Flickr,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/statefarm/
