Morris County Group Promotes Safe Teen Driving with 'You Matter to Me Day'

Parents with teen drivers are being encouraged to observe national “You Matter to Me Day," which is Monday, by signing a parent-teen driving agreement outlining household rules teens must follow to earn driving privileges.

The reason behind this national approach to dealing with an almost universal rite of passage is safety: Car crashes are the leading cause of death for New Jersey teens, whose crash risk is three times that of more experienced drivers. In 2011, 91 people died on New Jersey’s roadways in crashes involving teen drivers. 

Research also shows that teens with supportive, involved parents who set rules and monitor driving are twice as likely to wear seat belts, 70 percent less likely to drink and drive, half as likely to speed and 30 percent less likely to use a cell phone while driving. 

A survey released last January by the Allstate Foundation showed 79 percent of parents believe it is important to sign a parent-teen agreement after teens receive licenses.

“Parents literally hold the keys to developing safe drivers,” said Pam Fischer, who heads the Long Valley-based New Jersey Teen Safe Driving Coalition. “Being involved throughout a teen's learning-to-drive process—which includes the first 12 months of licensure—is imperative. There is no better way for parents to show teens how much they care about their safety than to establish driving guidelines and restrictions that are proven to reduce teen crashes.”

A written, signed agreement between a parent and a teen driver should include clear expectations and the consequences for violating state-mandated restrictions outlined in Graduated Driver Licensing programs. Restrictions can be stronger than those mandated by state laws. No state’s teen driving laws fully protect teens from the risks they face during the first few years of driving, which is why parental involvement can make a difference for novice teen drivers. 

Parents are encouraged to leverage the tools at DriveitHOME, a parent education website developed by the National Safety Council. The site can help parents understand why teens crash, how to coach teen drivers and how to craft an effective parent-teen agreement. 

“Many parents do not realize the dangers new drivers face on the roads,” said Kathy Bernstein, senior manager of teen driving initiatives at NSC. “Education is the first step toward reducing crashes involving teen drivers. If parents are knowledgeable about teen driving issues, it is our hope they will do all they can to help their teens survive their most dangerous driving years.”

“You Matter to Me” Day is observed annually to encourage people to tell others how much they care about them. For more information, visit youmattertomeday.com.