How to keep your new teen driver safe

All right, let's talk about roads right now. You just saw some cars out there, roadways, of course, busy always here in Atlanta. We're taking a live look right now, I-85 and Buford Springs Connector. In case you didn't know, it is National Teen Driver Safety Week, and the National Road Safety Foundation is reminding parents right now that keeping teens safe starts with a conversation and our example, right? Got to make sure that we are doing our part when we get behind the wheel. So let's get out right now to Michelle Anderson. She is the foundation's director of operations joining us live right now. First of all, Michelle, it is so great to see you here. How are you? I'm doing well. Thank you for having me. Good. And I have to tell you, you are right on time for me. I have a 16 year old niece who is just about to drive. And let me tell you, my entire family is feeling a little bit nervous about it. So help me out right now. What is the conversation and the message we should be sending out? Well, again, this is National Teen Driver Safety Week, and this week has actually been designated by NHTSA, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, for parents, caregivers, communities, uncles to talk with teen drivers about being safe behind the wheel and to make sure that they are displaying safe habits while they are behind the wheel. And this is very important because our teen drivers, that is the number one killer for teens, vehicle crashes. And approximately 2,300 teens have been killed due to reckless driving. I got to tell you, hearing those numbers and hearing that message, it kind of stops your heart. So of course, we all want to do what we can to keep kids safe. So let's talk about messages. I mean, for parents out there who are about to get their kids behind the wheel what right from the start do we need to make clear the first thing we need to do is to be good role models when you get in your vehicle the first thing you need to do is buckle up even before you turn that vehicle on buckle up uh make sure you turn off those devices when you do this teens are watching they're going to more than likely do the same thing when they get in their vehicle also just open the lines of communication with teen drivers making sure that you are explaining to them that having a driver's license it's a privilege it's not a right yeah and also it's important for parents to know what the gdl laws are graduated driver licensing laws know what they are because they vary from state to state and you can do a lot by knowing what the law is to help keep your teen safe yeah you just mentioned devices and i guess that's the biggest difference from when i was learning to drive to now we didn't have phones in the car back then And that was one less really big distraction. So what you just said, I mean, when we get in the phone setting the example or when we get in the car, put the phone down and don't touch it. Right. Absolutely. And let's keep in mind that distraction is not just technology. Distraction could be multiple passengers in your vehicle. So that is a big distraction for teen drivers. So we want to make sure, again, that we know what the laws are and that, you know, in your state, in the state of Georgia, you need to know how many people can be in that vehicle. And in fact, there has to be someone in the vehicle that is at least 21 years of age in order for that licensed teen to be driving. So we need to know these things, parents. Yeah, absolutely. What would you say to a teen? Because I think a lot of teens might say, Well, look, I was just speeding a little bit. It was only 10 miles over the speed limit or I just did this one thing one time. It wasn't that big of a deal. What is the message we should be sending back to that? Well, the first thing is there's no such thing as I was just doing a little because once you do a little bit, it begins to grow. So let's just start there. And then the other thing that we would want them to understand is that, you know, you are an inexperienced driver and as an inexperienced driver, you're more than likely you're three times more likely to be in a vehicle crash. and someone who is experienced. Yeah. OK, so also, I guess it's very, very important, too, that we talk about things like alcohol and drug use and marijuana and things that could impair a driver behind the wheel. Got to get those messages out immediately. Right. Absolutely. Know this. Every 44 minutes, someone died in a in an alcohol. Yeah. If they're under the influence of alcohol. They die in a car crash. So that number is alarming. And here's the thing. Speeding, distraction, alcohol, all of these things are preventable. Yeah, they're preventable. Yeah. So if we if we make sure that we're speaking to our nieces and we're speaking to our family members and letting them know these dangers and to continue to raise this awareness, then we have a better chance at keeping them safe so that they can come home. Yeah, I seriously am making note in my head of every one of these things to make sure that my niece is well aware. So finally, I mean, bottom line, if there's one thing parents can do right now to keep their kids safer, what would you say it is? Again, I can't say it more. Please, please, parents, be a good role model. Kids are going to emulate what you do behind the wheel. Yeah, Michelle, this is such great information, great reminders for everybody too. I know we can go to the website of the foundation, get more information. Thank you so much for for shedding light on this and reminding us. Thank you for getting the message out. Yeah, of course. Great to see you. And we'll see you again. Thank you.