Safe Teen Drivers - transcript
[Narrator] As a parent, it’s only natural to want to do all you can to protect your child. And,
when it‘s time to hand over the car keys, you may wonder how you can help your teen steer clear
of danger. The truth is, when it comes to keeping teen drivers safe, parents are the key.
[Narrator] CDC-TV presents, Health Matters.
[Narrator] Becoming a licensed driver is an exciting step in a teenager’s life. But with the reward
and privilege comes real risk.
[Arlene Greenspan] Car crashes are the number one killer of teens in the United States. In fact,
car crashes kill more teens than infectious disease and chronic disease combined.
[Narrator] The good news is, it’s scientifically proven. Parents can help decrease these
frightening odds. As a parent, it’s up to you to set a good example behind the wheel and talk
early and often about safe driving with your teen, even before it’s time to hand over the keys.
It’s also up to you to be a coach and instructor. Even the best behaved kids lack driving
experience, which is what makes their crash risk so high. This experience can only come with
practice, and a minimum of 30 to 50 hours of supervised practice is ideal.
[Bruce Simmons-Morton] Practice driving should include lots of daytime driving, night driving,
driving under a variety of road conditions, and under a variety of weather conditions.
[Narrator] As you show your teen driver the ropes, make sure you decide on and enforce your
rules of the road. Set rules about where and when your teen can drive and who they can drive
with. As you do, keep in mind that certain situations make crashes much more likely for young
drivers.
[Anne McCart] There are danger zones for teen drivers that parents should know about and make
sure their teens avoid. One danger zone is night driving. The crash risk for teen drivers is twice
as high at night as it is during the day.
[Narrator] Limit your teen’s nighttime driving and make rules about driving with teen
passengers.
[Parent] So we want to make sure that you understand the rules we’ve set for you in terms of
being able to drive the car.
[Narrator] Also make buckling up a must. Wearing a seatbelt can reduce your teen’s risk of
being badly injured in a crash by half.
[Narrator] Everyone, parents included, should make it a rule not to talk on the phone or text
behind the wheel. Put all your rules into writing with a parent-teen safe driving agreement. Talk
it through, and decide what you’ll do if your rules aren’t followed. It can be comforting to know
that your state’s on your side. Most states have teen driving laws, often called graduated driver
licensing, or GDL. Get to know, and follow, your state’s laws. Their main purpose is protecting
young drivers’ safety. Remember, your teen’s watching and listening to you. Talk about and
model safe driving, supervise practice driving, set and enforce your rules of the road, and get to
know your state’s teen driving laws.
[Arlene Greenspan] As a mother who has raised two teenage drivers, I know how hard it is to set
down the rules and follow them. But as a scientist, I know that setting the rules and enforcing
rules of the road is what you need to do to keep your teen safe at the wheel.
[Narrator] There’s a lot to learn and do. That’s why CDC has developed the Parents Are The Key
campaign for parents like you. At the website you’ll find a variety of tools and resources to help
you keep your teen driver safe. And you’ll learn how to spread the word with others to create a
whole community of safer teen drivers. You can hand over the keys with confidence.