NJ Teen Safe Driving Coalition Applauds State’s Teens for Modeling Several Good Driving Behaviors

Despite teens curtailing some risky driving behaviors, parents still have work to do

Long Valley, NJ – The New Jersey Teen Safe Driving Coalition applauds the state’s teens for reporting making better decisions when they’re behind the wheel and in the passenger seat. According to results from the 2013 New Jersey Student Health Survey, 90 percent of teens always wear a seat belt while riding in a car. Only 20 percent have ridden with a teen who had been drinking – down from 30 percent in 2001.

While these findings are encouraging, the percentage of teens who report driving after drinking had no linear change (9 percent in 2013, 6 percent in 2011). Moreover, more than a third of teens still think cell phone use is okay. Thirty-eight percent say they’ve talked on a cell phone while driving, while 36 percent have texted behind the wheel.

“It’s encouraging to see many New Jersey teens are modeling positive behaviors,” said Coalition Leader Pam Fischer. “I hope the results of this survey prompt other teens to make better decisions behind the wheel as they realize that the majority of their peers are engaging in positive social norms. However, not all teens are getting the message about the dangers of drinking and driving or using their cell phones. That’s a troubling finding that requires our continued focus.”

Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens. A teen’s crash risk is three times that of a more experienced driver, and cell phone use increases crash risk regardless of age. Talking on a cell phone increases a driver’s crash risk fourfold, while texting increases it even more as drivers take their eyes off the road. Under New Jersey’s graduated driver license (GDL) program, a teen holding a learner’s permit or probationary license is not permitted to use any electronic devices – hand-held or hands-free.

Teens have a higher chance of crashing if they drink than drivers of other age groups, even if they don’t drink very much. The good news is that the number of teen drivers involved in fatal crashes nationwide who had Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) levels of .01 or higher dropped by 50 percent, from 1,857 in 2003 to 926 in 2012. But, nearly a quarter (22 percent) of teen drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2012 were drinking, reports the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

According to research by The Allstate Foundation, parents are the leading resource for teens when it comes to learning to drive. That’s why being good role models for their teens is an important action parents should take. This means hanging up the phone, wearing a seat belt, designating a non-drinking driver, and never riding with someone who has been drinking. Parents are also encouraged to set rules for their teen drivers that go beyond state laws. Parent-teen driving deals, available at DriveitHOME.org, can help parents and teens come to an agreement on the kinds of driving behaviors that are and are not acceptable.

“Teens with parents who establish and monitor rules and offer supportive guidance are 50 percent less likely to crash,” said Fischer. “These same teens are also less likely to text, drink and drive, speed or ride unbelted.”

The mother of a teen driver, Fischer encourages parents to get educated about how New Jersey’s GDL program works to help reduce teen crash risk. The free parent/teen orientation program Share the Keys, which is presented at high schools and community-based settings across the state, is a great way for families to learn about GDL and start a teen safe driving dialogue. 

To learn how you can bring the program to your community, contact Fischer at 908-684-1036 or pfischer550@comcast.net.