Car Safety - Younger Driver Safety
Introduction
Teens are more likely to be involved in a crash than other drivers. Teen drivers:
- are more likely to underestimate or not recognize hazardous or dangerous situations due to driver inexperience.
- tend to drive more frequently under higher risk conditions, such as at night and/or without seatbelts.
- are more likely to take risks when driving.
Studies have found that the decision-making area of the brain is still developing during the teen years.
The leading causes of fatal crashes involving teen drivers include speeding, driving too fast for road conditions, inexperience, distractions - especially other teens in the car - and driving while drowsy or impaired.
Teen Driving Safety Tools
Recommendations, Tips & Statistics
- Get the Facts About 16 & 17 Year-Old Drivers
- Institute for Traffic Safety Management & Research Fact Sheets on Young Drivers
- Motor Vehicle Traffic Related Injury Statistics
- Teen Drivers and Passengers Safety
- Help Younger Drivers Stay Alive (PDF)
- Drowsy Driving Awareness
- Stay Awake, Stay Alive! Don't Drive Drowsy (PDF)
- Is it Safe? Teen Passenger Survival Tips
- Failure to Yield (PDF)
Information for Parents
- A Brief Overview of New York State Graduated Driver Licensing Law (GDL): A Parent's Guide
- Share the Keys- New York State Resource Guide: A 60 to 90-minute interactive orientation program for parents and their teen drivers. Originally, developed by the New Jersey Division of Highway Safety and Kean University, it is a research-based, data-driven program designed to reduce teen driver crash risks through increased parental involvement. Share the Keys was then modified to be specific to the state of New York. If you are interested in hosting a Share the Keys program, please email injury@health.ny.gov
- Is It Safe? Choosing a Safe Vehicle for Your Teen
- Teen Driving Safety Booklet for Parents
- Parent-Teen Driving Contract
Information for Law Enforcement
- Graduated Driver License Pocket Guides
- Upstate New York (excluding New York City & Long Island)
- New York City (Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens & Staten Island)
- Long Island (Nassau & Suffolk)
- Obey the Law - Crosswalk Safety. A tool for use with pedestrians and drivers that provides information about laws to keep pedestrians safe in crosswalks.