Teen Safe Driving Coalitions - Educating and engaging teens, parents and communities

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Teen Safe Driving Coalitions

Handing over the car keys to a newly licensed teen driver is exciting – and terrifying.

One day your child is a passenger in a school bus, one of the safest modes of transportation. The next day, he or she is the driver of a motor vehicle, one of the most dangerous modes of transportation.

Here is the scary truth:

Motor vehicle crashes are the No. 1 cause of death for teens.1
Drivers aged 16 and 17 have the highest crash rates than any other age group.2
In 2009, young drivers were involved in more than 5,600 fatal crashes.3

The only way teens can learn how to drive safely is to actually drive – but the consequences can be catastrophic.

That’s why The Allstate Foundation has joined with the National Safety Council (NSC) to zero in on the teen driving epidemic by forming coalitions in 10 states to address the issue. The 10 coalitions have a common goal: To establish a culture of safe teen driving based on proven principles of Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL).

What is Graduated Driver Licensing?
What can you do?

DriveitHOME Parent Initiative

DriveitHOME is a new program offering specially-created resources to help parents keep their teens safer on the roads, especially after they receive their driver's licenses. Designed by parents for parents, the unique program includes an interactive website featuring engaging videos, practice tips and other critical resources. Parents can sign up to receive weekly practice tips and suggestions via email, and are encouraged to share their own teaching techniques and experiences.

We all share our roadways, so when an inexperienced teen driver is on the road, we’re all affected. In fact, in 31 percent of fatal crashes involving teens aged 15 to 17, the victim was the occupant of another vehicle, not the teen driver. A quarter of these fatal crashes killed the teen’s passenger, and another 7 percent killed non-motorists such as pedestrians and bicyclists.

This isn’t just a teen issue – it’s a public safety issue.

What is Graduated Driver Licensing?

GDL is:

A science-based system that can markedly reduce teen drivers’ high crash risk (states with strong GDL systems have seen reductions of up to 40 percent).
A three-tiered approach that gives new drivers gradual exposure to driving challenges, such as nighttime driving and passengers.
A tool that gives teen drivers time to build experience and skills in lower-risk conditions.
Not a punishment for bad or irresponsible drivers.

Any family can use GDL principles to keep their teen driver as safe as possible. Learn more about GDL and how its principles keep teen drivers safer.

What can you do?

Understand the issue and get involved in educating teens and parents.

For new insights on teen attitudes and behaviors regarding driving, as well as tips and tools for keeping your teen safer on the road, visit The Allstate Foundation at ProtectTeenDrivers.com.
For teens looking for ways to address the issue, please visit: KeeptheDrive.com.
Coaches often are role models for teens and can help reinforce good driving habits. The coalitions have developed the GDL Game Plan for coaches to help them go over the GDL program. The Game Plan also includes a take-home brochure for parents

GDL Game Plans by State:

California (Coaches)

California (Parents)

Join the HEARTS Network.

Do you know someone who was in a motor vehicle crash involving a teen driver? Share your story with HEARTS.

The HEARTS Network gathers stories of crashes involving teen drivers from around the United States. It’s community for individuals and families who can play a critical role in influencing behaviors, changing beliefs and impacting teen driving to make our roads safer and save lives.

1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009

2Journal of Safety Research, 2003

3Injury Facts, 2011