Washington —The head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and a top safety advocate say teen driver education needs to improve and parents need to take an active role in monitoring new drivers’ habits behind the wheel.
NHTSA, the U.S. auto safety agency, on Tuesday unveiled a new campaign that challenges parents to discuss five critical driving practices with their teen-age drivers that can have the greatest beneficial impacts in the event of a crash.
The five key practices are: No cellphone use or texting while driving; no extra passengers; no speeding; no alcohol; and no driving or riding without a seat belt.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for those 14-18 years old in the United States. In 2011, 942 teens died in the crashes, NHTSA said.