WATCH: Steering Teen Drivers in the Right Direction

National Teen Driver Safety Week is taking place from October 20-26 across Canada. This week is meant to raise awareness about how young drivers can stay safer on our roadways.

Being a teenager is easy…said no teenager ever. Life has many challenges along the way and learning to drive is no exception.

One has to go no further than social media to see the types of questionable driving behaviours that await new drivers on our roadways. Add a 4000-pound metal object with rubber wheels and some stress to the mix and you have young drivers trying to do their best with the experience they have.

Currently, the top three things that endanger teen drivers are:

• Impaired Driving
• Distracted Driving
• Speeding

All of these have easy fixes, so long as all drivers are onboard.

Impaired driving can include the combination of driving while having consumed alcohol or drugs. Parachute Canada says that young people have the highest rate of traffic death and injury among all age groups, and youth represent the largest number of drivers who test positive for drugs or alcohol after a fatal crash. Planning ahead, making alternate transportation plans and refraining from consuming drugs and alcohol are safer choices to consider when planning to get behind the wheel.

A distracted driver holds or uses a cellphone, mp3 player, portable game consoles or any other hand-held device while operating a vehicle. This includes holding or using these devices while sitting at a red light or resting the device on one’s lap.  The Canadian Automobile Association conducted a study in 2018 that found that Canadians believe texting while driving is one of the biggest threats to their safety on the road. Making a conscious choice to use a designated texter or refrain from using electronic devices while driving will not only save lives but will make them a great role model for others.

Speeding is self-explanatory. The faster you go, the more risk you are taking on the road. The World Health Organization found that a five-per-cent reduction in average speed can reduce fatalities by 30%.  Obeying speed limits and driving according to the road conditions are a few tips to staying safer while driving.

Remember, the choices you make can affect more than just you. Let’s all do our part to be safer on the road.

For more road safety tips, visit our website at PeelPolice.ca/Superhero.