As a father of two, a local Ford dealership president and an active community member, it’s important for me to address the topic of teen driver safety as students head back to school. There is perhaps no bigger worry for parents than teen safety, especially when their children are behind the wheel.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for American teens. Driver distraction and inexperience are leading factors in many teen crashes, and distracted driving is a growing parental concern.
A 2013 survey commissioned by Ford found teens engage in several distracting activities while behind the wheel :
• 62 percent of teen drivers admitted to being distracted by others in the car.
• 61 percent admitted eating or drinking while driving.
• 42 percent said they turn up the radio so loud, they can’t hear other vehicles nearby.
• 51 percent said they listen to an iPod or MP3 player.
Yet only 26 percent of parents use a device to enforce driving rules or restrict cell phone use for teens behind the wheel. Who is there to remind our teenagers to buckle up when we are not in the car? How will they know when the radio is a distraction, or when the driver should slow down? To give parents peace of mind, auto manufacturers are developing technologies that encourage safe teen driving.
For example, Ford’s MyKey technology features options like a Persistent Ford Belt-Minder; a volume control that can limit the audio system to 44 percent of maximum output if the radio is too loud; and a speed chime at 45, 55, and 65 mph to remind teen drivers how fast they are going. It also includes a “Do Not Disturb” feature that helps parents block incoming phone calls and hold text messages on a phone paired with the Ford SYNC system when teens are behind the wheel.
Ford and other companies continue to be committed to teen driver safety and education as more schools face budget cuts that impact drivers education programs. Ford and the Governor’s Highway Safety Association help new drivers gain skills not taught in traditional drivers education classes through Driving Skills for Life, a free, advanced driving skills program for novice drivers.
In 2014, Driving Skills for Life launched its second decade with an expanded reach and mission to address dangerous trends and challenges teens and other new drivers face. The program will continue to reinforce the importance of “hands on the wheel, eyes on the road” while driving.
Let’s all do our part and encourage our teens to drive safe.
Steve Ewing is president of Wade Ford in Smyrna.
