Will This Make Teenagers Drive More Safely?

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A Lakeway judge has come up with a new way to stop teenagers from crashing into other drivers. He issues a huge, bright yellow bumper sticker that says “Report My Unsafe Driving” with a phone number to the Lakeway Municipal Court printed underneath to teen traffic violators. 

A teen who violates driving laws a second time has to plaster the glaring message on the back bumper. If the teen does not receive a traffic citation in six months, the ticket is wiped off her or his record. 

What a great way to motivate teens to drive safely. All the teen has to do is obey the traffic laws to erase an expensive ticket and traffic points. In the meantime, the teen learns important safe driving habits.

Teen Driving Tips

Why does this matter? Because 2,163 teens (ages 16 to 19 years old) died and 243,243 suffered injuries that required emergency room treatment in automobile accidents just in 2013.

Teenagers can reduce this frightening statistic by taking a few simple safe driving steps, including:

• Buckling up: In 60 percent of traffic fatalities of 16 to 20 year olds, the teens were not wearing their seat belts.
• Putting away the phone: 11 percent of the teens involved in fatal accidents were distracted.
• Going the speed limit: 37 percent of male teen drivers were speeding in the moments before their fatal accidents.
• Not drinking: According to MADD, teen alcohol use kills 4,700 people per year.
• Limiting passengers: A car full of teens presents a serious distraction to the new driver.
• Recognizing weather dangers: Rain, ice and fog require drivers to alter their conduct, something teens need to understand.
• Limiting nighttime driving: 17 percent of teen traffic deaths occurred between 9 p.m. and 12 a.m., and 24 percent occurred between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m. in 2010.

Parents: Don’t Just Talk the Talk. 

Sometimes it’s hard to believe, but teens actually do pay attention to what their parents say and do. And, they may not always admit it, but our words and actions influence their decisions.

One of the most important things we can do as parents is to drive safely ourselves. 

Parents who are always talking on the phone or texting while driving let their teens know that this behavior is okay. And speeding to get to work on time demonstrates that speeding is acceptable as long as there is a good enough excuse.

The fact that six teens die each day in car wrecks is deplorable. We must take steps to insure their safety. And ours.