The city of Austin is joining in the observance of National Teen Driver Safety Week, partnering with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to encourage parents to have conversations about safe driving with their teenage drivers. This week-long campaign, which takes place from October 15th to October 21st, aims to promote awareness and education on the importance of safe driving habits among young motorists.
Austin Municipal Court Senior Case Manager Cheryl Strangeman emphasized the significance of National Teen Driver Safety Week, particularly in a rapidly growing city like Austin. "Driver safety is important for everyone, especially new teen drivers," she stated in an October 16th press release. "We want to help them develop safe driving habits for themselves and those sharing the road."
According to the press release, vehicular crashes are the leading cause of death among teenagers nationwide between the ages of 15 and 18. In Texas alone, there were 431 fatal incidents involving a motorist under the age of 20, with the youngest fatality being just 10 years old. Furthermore, the release highlighted that nearly a quarter of Austinites who were killed or seriously injured in vehicular accidents this year were younger than 25 years old.
To support the goals of National Teen Driver Safety Week, Austin Municipal Court will be hosting a teen driving safety class on October 19th at 6800 Burleson Rd. Building 310, Suite 175. The class, organized by Impact Teen Drivers, utilizes real-life stories to illustrate the consequences of reckless and distracted driving on teenagers, their families, and their communities. The class is free of charge and dinner will be provided to attendees.
For any inquiries about the class, National Teen Driver Safety Week, or other issues related to teenage motorists, the Austin Municipal Court Youth Services can be reached via email at youth@austintexas.gov or by phone at (512) 974-4659.
National Teen Driver Safety Week serves as a reminder of the importance of educating and empowering young drivers to make responsible choices behind the wheel. By engaging parents and providing resources like the teen driving safety class, Austin hopes to instill safe driving habits in its teenage population and reduce the number of accidents involving young motorists.