Message Monday - Parents hold the keys to safe teen driving
It’s National Teen Driver Safety Week. As parents, we might feel like our kids don’t pay attention to what we do, but they’ve likely been watching your driving habits for a long time. What have they learned?
Parents - this time of year, the weather will be getting tricky, even for experienced drivers. Imagine what it is like for a teen who has limited experience driving in snow? Before you hand over the keys as the snow flies, spend a little time from the passenger seat talking your young driver through some of the special winter driving precautions.
- Evaluate the need for your trip. If the weather is bad, stay home.
- Always buckle up, no matter what seat you are in.
- Slow down.
- Leave distance between you and other cars.
Teens - speaking up directly to your friends can be hard, but we’ve found a way for you to get the message across to your friends without being right in their faces. If you’re a teen with a safe driving story to tell, why not make a video and have a chance to win $1,000? Go to www.ditchthedistraction.com for details.
The fatality count of 262 is an increase of three since last Monday. In all of 2016, 404 people were killed on Iowa highways. To see statistics published daily by the Office of Driver Services, go to the daily fatality report at https://www.iowadot.gov/mvd/stats/daily.pdf