National Teen Driver Safety Week Begins: Crashes Are the Leading Preventable Killer of U.S. Teens
National Teen Driver Safety Week runs October 18–24 this year. The National Road Safety Foundation marked the week by urging parents to talk with their teens about safe driving habits and to model good behavior behind the wheel.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of preventable death for U.S. teens, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In 2024, 2,320 people died in crashes involving a teen driver nationwide — including 752 teen drivers themselves and 478 passengers riding in a teen's vehicle — and an estimated 85,947 teen drivers were injured.
The data point to inexperience as a central factor: speeding was a factor in 33% of fatal crashes involving teen drivers in 2024, 22% of teen drivers in fatal crashes had been drinking, and 51% of teen drivers who died were unbuckled. NHTSA notes that teens are more likely than older drivers to underestimate dangerous situations and to make critical errors that lead to serious crashes.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation is running a parallel campaign this week, reminding parents to learn their state's Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) rules. Transportation and law-enforcement agencies across the country are holding similar activities during the week.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：青少年司机系上安全带（资料图）。摄影：State Farm，CC BY 2.0。Photo: A teen driver fastening a seat belt (file photo). Photo by State Farm, CC BY 2.0.
