(FRANKFORT, Ky.) — With National Teen Driver Safety Week set to begin October 19, Kentucky officials are calling on parents across the commonwealth to have critical conversations with their teenage drivers about road safety.
The weeklong campaign, running through October 25, comes as new data reveals the sobering toll of teen driving accidents in Kentucky. Over the past three years, more than 48,000 crashes have involved teenage drivers in the state, leading to over 13,000 injuries and claiming 210 lives, according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Office of Highway Safety.
“While nothing beats the experience that comes with driving, we are making sure we’re doing our part by offering teens access to resources and ensuring our roads and bridges are safe for all drivers,” said KYTC Secretary Jim Gray. “Caregivers can help by setting clear rules and modeling safe driving habits to help reduce the risks teen drivers face on the road.”
The statistics underscore a nationwide crisis. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for American teenagers. Per mile driven, teens are involved in three times as many fatal crashes as drivers of all other age groups.
Six Rules for Safer Teen Driving
In conjunction with NHTSA’s national campaign, Kentucky officials are emphasizing six essential safety practices:
Eliminate distractions. Driver distraction ranks as the leading factor in most crashes. Officials warn against cellphone use, conversations with passengers, adjusting controls, eating, drinking, or wearing headphones while behind the wheel.
Always wear seat belts. Despite seat belts being the most effective protection against injury and death, teens remain the least likely age group to buckle up. Properly worn seat belts distribute crash forces across the body’s strongest areas.
Limit passengers. NHTSA research demonstrates that fatal crash risk increases dramatically with each additional passenger. The likelihood of risky driving behavior triples when teens travel with multiple friends in the vehicle.
Respect speed limits. Exceeding posted limits significantly reduces a driver’s ability to navigate safely around hazards, other vehicles, or unexpected curves. Young males face particularly high risk for speed-related fatal crashes.
Never drive impaired. While teens cannot legally purchase or consume alcohol, impairment remains a serious threat. Even one drink slows reflexes, weakens coordination, and impairs vision. Marijuana and other drugs similarly compromise driving ability.
Avoid drowsy driving. Between academic demands and extracurricular activities, many teens sacrifice sleep. NHTSA studies show drowsy drivers are twice as likely to make critical errors compared to well-rested drivers.
State Resources Available
Kentucky has implemented several programs to promote teen driver safety, including the Safe Teen Driving Challenge, which rewards safe behaviors, and partnerships with Ford Driving Skills for Life to provide hands-on training.
The state also offers the free Kentucky Checkpoints™ program, developed in partnership with the Kentucky Safety Prevention Alignment Network. Available in every county, the program educates parents and teens about Graduated Driver Licensing requirements and teen driving risks.
For more information about Kentucky Checkpoints™, contact KSPAN Program Coordinator Steve Sparrow at Steve.Sparrow@uky.edu or visit the KSPAN website. Details about Kentucky’s Graduated Driver Licensing law are available at the state’s GDL website, and additional teen driving statistics can be found at www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/teen-driving.
