Bishop Encourages Families to Focus on Teen Driver Safety

Press Release

Congressman Tim Bishop encouraged young drivers and parents to discuss the risks of driving and implement strategies for safety behind the wheel as part of National Teen Driver Safety Week 2013, which runs from October 20 to 26.

Automobile accidents are the leading cause of death for America's teens, with teens behind the wheel and their peer passengers accounting for one in every five deaths of 15 to 19-year-olds in the U.S. In 2008, a total of 3,118 teens ages 15 to 19 died as a driver or as a passenger of a teen driver.

Bishop encouraged new drivers, their parents, educators, and anyone interested in learning more to visit the NTDSW website at http://www.teendriversource.org/. This year's theme is "It Takes Two: Shared Expectations for Teens and Parents for Driving,' with guidance and suggestions for how parents and other trusted adults can work with new drivers to ensure they develop into safe skilled drivers, including:

· Supervise 65+ hours of driving practice, keeping a log to record driver performance and concerns.

· Teach novice drivers critical driving skills such as speed management, recognizing and avoiding distraction, and scanning for hazards.

· Develop House Rules for teen drivers with enforcement and penalties for noncompliance.

"National Teen Driver Safety Week raises awareness on this important issue and provides teens and parents with guidance they need to establish safe driving habits and be responsible with the privilege of driving a vehicle," said Bishop. "Ultimately, it is up to each individual to put safety first and avoid unsafe driving behaviors such as texting behind the wheel or riding with too many friends as passengers."

Bishop, a senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, is recognized as a national leader on driver safety issues. Last year, he successfully advocated for the inclusion of nationwide state graduated drivers' license (GDL) standards in a new Highway Bill similar to those already in place in New York. Bishop has received a 2013 National Safety Council Excellence in Highway Safety award and the 2012 Graduated Driver Licensing Champion Award from State Farm Insurance in recognition of his work on the issue.

GDL standards involve authorizing a restricted Learner's Permit to novice drivers before they are granted full driving privileges. They are also proven to save lives when implemented. Sixteen-year-old drivers have a vehicle crash rate ten times that of drivers between 30 and 60 years of age, but by gradually acclimating teens to the road, states instituting strong GDL programs have experienced a reduction in teen driver crashes of up to 40 percent.

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