The busy intersecton at Taraval and 19th Avenue shows how important it is for all of us to slow down and be safe. Photo taken July 14, 2015.
This week is National Teen Safe Driver Week and we’re taking a cue from our peers over at the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA). Check out their Fast Lane blog post for their newest safety campaign, 5 to Drive: the five rules parents should discuss with teens before handing the car keys to the family’s newest driver.
Getting a driver’s license has long been a rite of passage for many American teens. In some cities like San Francisco though, more teens are waiting until they are 18 to get a license when all that’s required is a written exam and driving test. In the meantime, they’ll opt for transit or getting a ride with friends instead.
Despite that trend, the leading cause of death for teens nationwide are car crashes. In 2013, CDC data showed that 2,163 teens in the United States ages 16 - 19 were killed. That means that six teens ages 16–19 died every day from a crash. In addition, 243,243 were treated in emergency rooms for injuries suffered in car crashes.
Building on that, in California, drivers ages 16 – 19 are at least four times more likely than other drivers to be involved in a crash. This group also has the highest average annual citation rate, according to a California Department of Motor Vehicles report issued in March 2013.
When it comes to San Francisco, unsafe vehicle speed is one of the top three causes of crashes with people walking, biking and driving. Speed matters. Whether you’re on a motorcycle or in a car, the speed limit is there for a reason: your safety. And it’s important to remember that going the speed limit isn’t necessarily “safe driving” if you’re driving too fast for the conditions around you.
Fortunately, fatal car crashes are preventable. In 2014, we adopted a policy of Vision Zero and a goal to eliminate all traffic deaths in San Francisco. We believe that a simple mistake on the road shouldn’t result in death.
Reducing unsafe speed plays a huge role in preventing car crashes and it’s one of NHTSA’s five rules that could help save a life:
1. No alcohol for teens; adults must drink responsibly
It is illegal for anyone under 21 to drink in the United States, yet 17 percent of drunk drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2013 were 16 to 20 years old.
2. No cell phone use or texting while driving
Ten percent of all drivers 15 to 19 years old involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crashes.
3. No driving or riding without a seat belt
In 2013, 55 percent of people ages 16 to 20 who died in vehicle crashes were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.
4. NO SPEEDING
About 35 percent of male drivers and 21 percent of female drivers ages 15 to 20 involved in fatal crashes were speeding in 2013.
5. No extra passengers
Teen drivers were two-and-a-half times more likely to engage in one or more potentially risky behaviors when driving with another teen compared to when driving alone, according to a study analyzed by NHTSA.