FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 18, 2016) - The Kentucky Office of Highway Safety (KOHS) is joining the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) during National Teen Driver Safety Week Oct.16-22 in promoting the “5 to Drive” campaign to encourage conversations with teen drivers about the top five dangerous driving behaviors: drunken driving, no seat belt, speeding, distractions and multiple passengers. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens nationwide. According to NHTSA, teens whose parents set firm rules for driving will typically engage in less risky driving behaviors and are involved in fewer crashes. “As a parent, I believe that taking time out of our busy schedules to invest in the lives of our children is imperative on many levels,” said KOHS Executive Director Dr. Noelle Hunter. “Laws are not enough to protect these young drivers, so parents must set rules before their teens get behind the wheel. Please take advantage of these free resources to help initiate the conversation.” Listed below are the 5 to Drive behaviors with the corresponding Kentucky law: 1. No drinking and driving – All teens are too young to legally buy or possess alcohol, but they are still at risk. Nationally in 2014, one out of five teen drivers (15 to 19 years old) involved in fatal crashes had been drinking. Remind your teen that driving under the influence of any impairing substance, including illicit or prescription drugs, could have deadly consequences. Kentucky Law – All states have a zero tolerance law, meaning it is illegal for people under the age of 21 to drive after drinking any amount of alcohol. 2. Always buckle up – Wearing a seat belt is one of the simplest ways to stay safe in a vehicle; however, too many teens are not buckling up and neither are their passengers. In 2014, there were 763 passengers killed in vehicles driven by teen drivers (15-19 years old), and 59 percent of those passengers who died were NOT buckled up at the time of the fatal crash. When the teen driver was unrestrained, the percentage of those passengers who were also not restrained jumped to almost 86 percent. Remind your teen that it’s important for everyone to buckle up on every trip, every time. Kentucky Law – Kentucky has a primary seat belt law, meaning drivers can be stopped and cited if anyone in the vehicle is not wearing a seat belt. Those in violation are subject to a fine. 3. Eyes on the road and hands on the wheel – Distractions while driving are more than just risky—they can be deadly. In 2014, among teen drivers (15-19 years old) involved in fatal crashes, 10 percent were reported as distracted at the time of the crash. Remind your teen about the dangers of texting, dialing or using mobile apps while driving. Distracted driving isn’t limited to cell phone use. Transporting passengers, adjusting audio and climate controls in the vehicle, and eating or drinking while driving are all examples of dangerous distractions. Kentucky Law – Texting while driving is banned for all drivers while the vehicle is in motion. For drivers under age 18, dialing or talking on a cell phone while the vehicle is in motion is also not permitted. Drivers who are cited for texting while driving will receive three points added to their license. 4. No speeding – Speeding is a critical issue for all drivers, especially teens. In 2014, 30 percent of teen drivers involved in a fatal crash were speeding at the time of the crash. Remind your teen to drive within the speed limit. Kentucky Law – Motorists cited for driving 11 mph to 25 mph over the speed limit will receive up to six points added to their license. Drivers cited for 26 mph or over will undergo a hearing , resulting in a possible license suspension. 5. No more than one passenger at a time – Extra passengers in a teen’s car can lead to disastrous results. According to NHTSA, when driving with one teenage peer compared to when driving alone, teen drivers were two-and-a-half times more likely to engage in one or more potentially risky behaviors. The likelihood of teen drivers engaging in risky behaviors triples when traveling with multiple passengers. Kentucky Law – Under Kentucky’s graduated driver licensing (GDL) law, there is a restriction on number of passengers allowed for drivers under age 18. Under the GDL law, a driver must hold the permit or intermediate license for 180 consecutive days conviction-free before progressing to the next licensing phase. If a citation is received, the 180-day period will begin anew. Additionally, if drivers under age 18 accumulate seven points within a two-year period, a hearing may be conducted and driving privileges may be suspended. “Our hope is that Teen Driver Safety Week will prompt parents to start a conversation about the 5 to Drive campaign, but it won’t stop at the end of the week,” said Hunter. “Continuing your conversations throughout the year will be time well spent.” For more information on the 5 to Drive campaign, please visit www.safercar.gov/parents<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTYxMDE4LjY1MTc2MDYxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE2MTAxOC42NTE3NjA2MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODYzNTk4JmVtYWlsaWQ9a2VpdGgudG9kZEBreS5nb3YmdXNlcmlkPWtlaXRoLnRvZGRAa3kuZ292JnRhcmdldGlkPSZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&100&&&http://www.safercar.gov/parents>. For more information on Kentucky’s GDL law, visit http://drive.ky.gov/driver-licensing/Pages/Graduated-Driver-Licensing-Program.aspx<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTYxMDE4LjY1MTc2MDYxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE2MTAxOC42NTE3NjA2MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2ODYzNTk4JmVtYWlsaWQ9a2VpdGgudG9kZEBreS5nb3YmdXNlcmlkPWtlaXRoLnRvZGRAa3kuZ292JnRhcmdldGlkPSZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&101&&&http://drive.ky.gov/driver-licensing/Pages/Graduated-Driver-Licensing-Program.aspx>.
