State officials are encouraging parents to talk to their new and young drivers about making smart choices once they get behind the wheel. The Interagency Coordinating Council on State Prevention Programs (ICC) Work Group is asking parents to reinforce with young drivers these simple, live-saving driving tips:
·All occupants must wear a seat belt.
·Obey the speed limit.
·Know your limits and do not drive when you’re tired, while texting or impaired by alcohol and/or other substances.
“An accident can occur in a split second, whether it’s your car or someone else’s car spinning out of control,” said ICC staff member Vicki Turner of the Department of Public Health and Human Services Prevention Resource Center. “It’s so important to keep your eyes on the road at all times.” Nationwide, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the U.S. Since 2008, there have been 69 teen driver fatalities in Montana, which represents about 60 percent of all teen fatalities.
The 2013 Montana Youth Risk Behavior survey asked Montana students about their driving habits. The results showed that during the 30 days prior to the survey, about 56 percent texted or emailed, and 61 percent talked on a cell phone while driving. “Take a few minutes to visit with your teen, especially with the summer months upon us about making smart choices when driving and riding in a car,” Turner urged.
The ICC Work Group urges you to visit http://www.plan2live.mt.gov for information about Vision Zero and a new Mythcrashers video about buckling up. And, check out these social media pages including http://www.facebook.com/plan2live and #visionzeromt .
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