National Teen Driver Safety Week, observed Oct. 19-25, is being recognized nationwide to raise awareness about the risks faced by young drivers. The annual campaign, led by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is intended to encourage communities and parents to promote safe driving among teenagers who are still gaining experience behind the wheel.
In Alabama, crashes involving teenagers remain a concern. According to the 2024 Alabama Crash Facts, 7 percent of all fatal crashes in the state were caused by drivers 19 or younger. Of the 967 deaths reported on Alabama roadways last year, many could have been prevented by wearing seatbelts, slowing down and avoiding distractions.
Nationally, 2,611 people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers in 2023. To help reduce those numbers, programs such as the UrKeys2Drv Teen Safety Summits are being held across the state. Drive Safe Alabama, along with other safety partners like State Farm, Children’s of Alabama and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, host these events every fall. During the summits, students and safety experts take part in interactive lessons that demonstrate the dangers of distracted and impaired driving.
“Teen Driver Safety Week is a reminder that safe driving habits start early and last a lifetime. Parents play a big role in shaping how their teenagers drive by modeling safe behavior and talking about driving expectations,” said Amanda Deem, Drive Safe Alabama Coordinator.
To assist in those conversations, Drive Safe Alabama has developed a Parent Toolkit that includes presentations and handouts about speeding, distracted driving and Alabama’s Graduated Driver License law. The free toolkit can be found at DriveSafeAlabama.org.
