The Holiday Season is upon us and although the events of 2020 have changed many aspects of our lives, the one thing that has not changed is the fact that motor vehicle crashes are still the leading cause of death for U.S. teen drivers aged 13-19, according to the CDC. As is true with most motor vehicle crashes, keeping teens safe behind the wheel and preventing car crashes is possible. Impaired and distracting driving are at their peak over the holidays, so now is a good time to review a few key tips to keep your teens and family members safe during the holidays.

Driving Impaired
This applies to not only teenagers but to their friends and family. There is an abundance of rideshare options available today from companies like Uber and Lyft, so there is no reason to get behind the wheel of a car if you are impaired by alcohol and/or drugs.

Avoiding Distractions
Planning and engaging in winter break festivities means mobile phone use for texting, taking photos, videos, and sharing on social media will be higher than normal. We have all heard the stats, but it can’t hurt to refresh this conversation: Multitasking behind the wheel is dangerous and potentially fatal taking your eyes off the road for five seconds at 55 mph is like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed. Think of all the things that can go wrong in that amount of time when you are not giving driving your full attention.

Parents, it is up to you to set the rules and enforce them. To learn more about strategies to avoid teen crashes and injuries, read our blog: How to Talk to Your Teenager About Driving. If you have not already reviewed and signed the Parent-Teen Driving Agreement, you can download it by clicking here.