Your family is at risk any time a driver is using a cell phone behind the wheel, but there are a few ways to decrease that risk.
- Key Research – Learn more about the dangers of cognitive distraction and share this information with family and loved ones.
- State Laws – Become familiar with and follow your state’s laws concerning cell phone use while driving. Teach these laws to your family and set a good example by following them yourself.
- Public Education – Educate the public on the dangers of distracted driving and how it affects families in your community.
Teen Driving
Motor vehicle crashes are the No. 1 cause of death for teens. Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) is proven to reduce teen driver crashes and deaths by 40 percent. Implement life-saving GDL practices in your home by following these tips:
- Extend the learner’s permit period.
- Set nighttime driving and passenger restrictions.
- Ban cell phone use while driving and make safety belts mandatory.
Parents’ first concern is their teen’s safety. GDL is designed to support parents by giving them a framework to keep their teen safe. The parent’s role in the learning-to-drive process is crucial – with parental guidance, teens can become safe, responsible drivers.
Safety Belts
Although safety belt usage continues to increase, many groups of people, especially teens, still are not buckling up. In 2009, 67 percent of the passenger vehicle occupants ages 13 to 15 killed in motor vehicle crashes were not using restraints – the highest percentage out of all age groups. Keep your family safe by always buckling up and setting an example that will have a lasting impact on your children.
Child Passenger Safety
Placing children in age- and size-appropriate car seats and booster seats reduces serious and fatal injuries by more than half, but three out of four parents do not properly use child restraints. Following a few basic steps can go a long way towards saving your child’s life.
- Select a car seat based on your child’s age and size and use it every time.
- Keep your child in the car seat for as long as possible, as long as the child fits within the manufacturer’s height and weight requirements.
- Keep your child in the back seat at least through age 12.
These are just a few steps your family can take to make sure your children are safe on the road. Download fact sheets and find the leading resources for information on Child Passenger Safety.
Children in & Around Vehicle
Children are injured or killed in and around vehicles each year, and all are preventable. Driveway backovers and hot car deaths can easily be prevented by never leaving a child in or around a vehicle unattended. Be especially vigilant during hectic times, schedule changes and holidays, as these busy times can often result in tragedy.
Impaired Driving
Impaired driving is a serious threat to communities throughout the nation. In 2009, 10,839 people were killed in the United States in motor vehicle crashes where a driver was under the influence of alcohol, accounting for 32 percent of all fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes. Keep your family safe by learning about impaired driving prevention strategies.
Aggressive Driving
Aggressive or improper driving is a factor in nearly 60 percent of all fatal accidents, and includes behaviors such as speeding, frequent and unnecessary lane changes, tailgating and running red or yellow lights. These actions put your family and other drivers in danger. Set a proper example for inexperienced drivers by remaining calm and following defensive driving techniques. NSC offers defensive driving courses online
and in a classroom.
Mature Driving
Over the next 20 years, the number of senior drivers will increase 70 percent. With crash rates for drivers age 65+ higher than any age group, except teens, this increase could result in up to 100,000 senior driver deaths from 2008 to 2028. Use these resources to help keep mature drivers in your family safe.