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Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 15-19 year olds, most likely due to a combination of inexperience, overconfidence, risk-taking behavior and greater risk exposure. Young people have less experience behind the wheel than older drivers. Young people are less likely to wear seatbelts than older drivers. And, young people are more likely to drive at night, with other young people as passengers, thus increasing the risks of distraction and the influence of peer pressure. Recently, Colorado passed a comprehensive Graduated Driver's Licensing Law to address this problem. For details on the law, download a brochure at
www.coteendriver.com They are available in both English and Spanish.
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BEST PRACTICES
- Parents - Parents have a key role in injury prevention. They provide the transportation and the financial and emotional support for sports and recreational activities, and are in control of the car keys and insurance. They provide role modeling with their own behavior and set boundaries with appropriate consequences related to alcohol and drug use, behavior and rules of the road.
- Schools - Schools have a responsibility to prevent injuries from occurring at school and school-sponsored events. They can also teach the skills needed to prevent unintentional injuries, violence and suicide in all domains and throughout their lives. They have the means to provide recreation injury prevention information to parents, students and athletic staff.
- Communities - Communities can integrate and tailor strategies to meet their unique needs and opportunities for injury prevention. It is important to involve relevant stakeholders in planning and implementation of safety plans to increase commitment and involvement in carrying out solutions. Graduated Drivers? License programs are a clear example of an injury prevention strategy established by policy.
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Helpful Links:
Teen Motor Vehicle Leadership Alliance
Healthy Kids Colorado Survey Results
Colorado Best Practices Website
The Driver's Seat; Colorado's Teen Driving Safety Campaign
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