PennDOT Reminds Teen Drivers to Avoid Distractions While Driving

Parents Encouraged to Talk With Young Drivers About Unsafe Driving Behaviors

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- PennDOT today reminded
teen drivers of the deadly consequences of driving while distracted and
encouraged parents to talk with young drivers about unsafe driving behaviors.

Governor Edward G. Rendell has proclaimed Oct. 18-24 as Teen Driver Safety
Week to coincide with the national observance.

"Teen drivers lack the experience needed to recognize and react to high-risk
conditions and situations on roadways," said PennDOT Secretary Allen D.
Biehler, P.E. "Distractions such as additional passengers in the vehicle,
talking or texting on the cell phone, adjusting the radio, and eating while
driving only compound the inexperience factor and increase the risk of a crash
occurring."

The 23,059 crashes involving 16- to 19-year-old drivers in Pennsylvania in
2008 resulted in 194 fatalities. Although more than one factor may contribute
to a crash, statistics show that driver distractions are major contributors to
highway crashes as these behaviors take the teen driver's full attention away
from the driving task. Driver distractions contributed to approximately 10
percent of crashes involving 16- to 19-year-old drivers in 2008.

Additionally, driving too fast for conditions, driver inexperience, and
improper or careless turning were also major contributors to highway crashes.
In fact, 39 percent of the crashes involving a 16- to 19-year-old driver in
2008 involved at least one of these factors.

The risk of a crash involving any of these factors can be reduced through
practice, limiting the number of passengers a teen driver can have in a
vehicle, parents setting a good example for the teen driver, obeying all rules
of the road and exercising common sense.

With this in mind, PennDOT offers the following safety tips to teen drivers:

-- Always wear your seat belt.
-- Do not drink and drive; drinking under the age of 21 is illegal.
-- Do not talk or text on your cell phone while driving.
-- Obey the speed limit; driving too fast gives you less time to react.
-- Do not eat or drink while driving.
-- Adjust radio and climate controls before beginning your trip, have
your
passenger adjust the controls for you or adjust the controls when you
are stopped.
-- Plan ahead; know where you are going and get directions.
-- Leave early and give yourself plenty of time to get there.

-- Expect the unexpected.

PennDOT also reminds parents that adult supervision is a critical component of
keeping teen drivers safe on the roads, as they have the ability to best
assess the teen driver's knowledge, skills and maturity. While this may be a
focus when the teen driver has a learner's permit, this responsibility
continues even after the teen driver becomes licensed. Parents should:

-- Start talking with your teen about safe driving skills before they
turn
16.
-- Establish a parent/teen driving contract.
-- Limit the number of passengers your teen is allowed to have in their
vehicle.
-- Limit dawn, dusk and nighttime driving until your teen gathers more
experience.
-- Enforce a curfew.
-- Gradually increase the amount of time/distance your teen is allowed to
drive.
-- Do not allow your teen to eat or drink while driving.
-- Do not allow your teen to talk or text on a cell phone while driving.
-- Enforce observance of speed limits and other rules of the road.

-- Ride with your teen occasionally to monitor driving skills.

For more information on young driver safety, visit PennDOT's highway safety
Web site, www.DriveSafePA.org and select the Young Driver link under the
Traffic Safety Information Center.

Media contact: Danielle E. Klinger, 717-787-0485

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

Danielle E. Klinger of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation,
+1-717-787-0485