May is National Youth Traffic Safety Month

Not only is May the peak of high school prom season, but it is also National Youth Traffic Safety Month.

With graduation and summer vacations right around the corner, PennDOT is urging young drivers to avoid “distractions and focus their full attention on the road,” according to a PennDOT press release.

There were 114,672 crashes involving 16 to 19-year-old drivers in Pennsylvania between 2006 and 2010, according to the release. Unfortunately, those crashes resulted in 952 deaths. About half of those crashes were caused by speeding, driving too fast for conditions, driver inexperience, driver distraction, improper or careless turning.

“It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of the season, but a moment of distraction or carelessness behind the wheel can have permanent and tragic consequences,” PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch said in the release.

According to PennDOT’s release, crash risks can be reduced through practice, limiting the number of passengers riding with a teen driver, parents setting a good example, obeying all rules of the road and utilizing common sense.

From 2006 and 2010, 3,386 crashes involved a teen driver that had consumed alcohol.

“Pennsylvania's Zero Tolerance Law carries serious consequences for those under 21 who consume any amount of alcohol,” the release states. The law sets the blood alcohol content [BAC] at .02 for minors to be charged with driving under the influence [DUI]. If someone under 21 is convicted of DUI could face a jail term of two days to six months, a suspended license for at least one year and a fine of $500 to $5,000.

“Driving is a complex activity requiring motorists to make split-second decisions and intricate maneuvers; skills that suffer greatly whenever a driver is distracted or under the influence,” Schoch said.

For more information on young driver safety, visit PennDot’s highway safety website and select the “Young Driver” link under the “Traffic Safety Information Center.”