Teen Driving Awareness Month is observed every year in January to spread awareness about teen driving and the risks associated with it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.) reports that every day, six teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 die in car crashes. This roughly equates to 2,100 teenagers dying every year. We can certainly play our part in preventing such cases. Teen Driving Awareness Month is celebrated as a full month every year to spread awareness about the issue.
History of Teen Driving Awareness Month
The first automobile to carry humans for transportation purposes was invented in 1769. With this invention, it was thought that traveling would become easier and safer. People would be able to travel long distances without having to get tired and exhausted. No one knew that one day this invention would cause teenage deaths because of the sheer carelessness and stupidity of a few.
Generally in the U.S., the minimum driving age in most states is 16 years old. At this age, one would be in high school, dependent on his or her parents. Basically, the point is that at this age, one would technically consider people of this age as children who are maturing but have not fully matured and need proper adult guidance. Unfortunately, the norm here is that these children learn to drive without any supervision from adults and then drive recklessly on the streets. In this situation, they not only put themselves in danger but they risk the safety of others as well.
Now, with the imagery clearly in front of us, and some unfortunate events happening in the past, some social works organizations took the initiative to organize awareness campaigns highlighting the importance of safe driving and imposing a few strict measures to safeguard the lives of our teenage kids and others around them. Among the initiatives taken we have Teen Driving Awareness Day, Teen Driving Awareness Week, and now stressing on the need to do more in this regard, we now have an entire month dedicated to talking about this issue, spread as much awareness as possible about the issue, and to emphasize on the importance of the role of parents (or guardians) in the lives of their children.
Although the situation has improved over the years there is still room for improvement and why not. The lives that are lost in these accidents are not recoverable. These people are irreplaceable and everything that can be done should be done to protect these lives. Hence this month-long observation of Teen Driving Awareness Month is of utmost importance to bring a change.
Teen Driving Awareness Month timeline
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is formed to address transportation safety-related issues.
Social works organizations and national organizations join hands for the cause.
The C.D.C. reports that in 2014, 2,270 teenagers lost their lives in car crashes.
The number of casualties increases in 2019 as over 2,400 teenagers die and another 200,000 are injured in car crashes.
Teen Driving Awareness Month FAQs
What is the minimum age to get a driver’s license in the U.S.?
The minimum age requirement is 16 in some states but in most of the states, the age at which you get a license is 18.
How can I teach my child to drive responsibly?
The best thing you can do is spend some time with your teenager by asking him or her to drive around while sitting next to him or her. Talk about anything to make it look like a parent-child bonding session but observe the driving skills and then you can always guide them to be better at driving.
When should I allow my teenage child to take the car out?
Well, there is no fixed age or situation in which you should allow your child to take the car for a ride. It is all about the confidence you have in your child and the faith inside you that your teenager will be careful while driving.
How To Observe Teen Driving Awareness Month
Encourage parental involvement
As parents, it is their responsibility to ensure that their children are engaged in safe driving practices. To encourage this participation and involvement of parents, different awareness campaigns can be initiated.
On-road awareness posters and banners
Who does not like arts and poster making? Call in a few people and teenagers from the society to participate in an awareness-based poster-making session that can later be put on the roadsides to indirectly build awareness in people and teenagers especially.
Insist on enforcing strict laws and punishments
A few good examples of strict action against lawbreakers by the police, and enough support towards those policemen for their conduct should do the trick to instill fear in teenagers. This fear should serve as a trigger for responsible driving.
5 Facts About Teen Driving
Girls drove better than boys
Among these casualties, more boys than girls were found in incidents of car crashes.
Seven deaths every day
In 2019, it was recorded that every day, seven teenagers died in car crashes.
Three times the risk
Teenagers between 16 and 19 are three times more prone to being involved in a car crash than those who are 20 and above.
52% crashes occur over the weekend
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays have reported the maximum % teenage car accidents.
43.1% don’t wear seatbelts
According to a survey, 43.1% of teenagers openly confessed to not wearing a seatbelt while driving.
Why Teen Driving Awareness Month Is Important
Awareness is important
We need to spread maximum awareness so that this initiative gains the attention it needs. It is our teenagers who fall victim to their irresponsible behavior, but it is their parents and society that suffer. Together we need to create a culture that raises responsible teens.
The right message needs to be sent
We do not call for a ban on teen driving, we emphasize the need to take measures to encourage safe driving. Teens should undergo a proper driving test and then once they clear the test, then and only then they should be allowed to drive.
We are losing too many teenagers for nothing
It is a difficult fact but it is what it is. Lack of parental supervision and responsible attitude in our teenagers leads to around seven deaths daily. This can easily be avoided or at least reduced significantly by counseling our teens and encouraging maturity. This month, we can organize all sorts of events and activities to spread awareness for the cause and its impact.
Teen Driving Awareness Month dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | January 1 | Wednesday |
| 2026 | January 1 | Thursday |
| 2027 | January 1 | Friday |
| 2028 | January 1 | Saturday |
| 2029 | January 1 | Monday |
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