Teen driver safety week highlights risks and roles of teens behind the wheel

AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB) — For many teens, getting behind the wheel means freedom, but it can also come with serious risk. This week, safety experts are urging parents to make sure that freedom doesn’t turn into tragedy.

Elizabeth Carey, director of public relations at AAA, said teens are three times as likely as adult drivers to be involved in a fatal crash. Research from Tripoli shows 47% of teens admit to speeding at least 10 miles over the limit, and 35% admit to texting while driving. Carey emphasized the importance of parents discussing these risks with their teens to curb dangerous behavior.

Teen Driver Safety Week runs through Oct. 25, focusing on distracted driving, speeding, and seatbelt use.

Ava O’Callaghan, a teen driver, said her biggest distraction is her phone.

“It’ll buzz and I want to look at it. But just looking down the road, seeing how many distracted people there really are, it can definitely help me not want to look at my phone,” she said.

Experts say parents can make the biggest impact by setting clear rules about passengers, speed, and phone use.

Trooper James O’Callaghan, public information officer for Troop A, said safe driving starts long before teens get their permits.

“Even when your kids are little, in booster seats, it’s important to talk about what’s dangerous, what to watch for, and why we stop at red lights and stop signs,” he said. “By the time they’re 16 or 17, these lessons are already habits.”

Officials stress that safe driving is not just a one-week effort but a lifetime of habits that starts at home.