.svg)
Buckle up and get ready to celebrate National Youth Traffic Safety Month on May 1! This important month-long observance was created to raise awareness about the importance of safe driving among young people. Did you know that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States? That's why it's crucial to educate and empower our youth to make responsible decisions behind the wheel. So let's use this month as an opportunity to promote safe driving practices and reduce the number of accidents involving young drivers.
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1970</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Highway Safety Act</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Highway Safety Act is enacted by the federal government, kickstarting a new focus on improving road safety in the U.S.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1984</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>National Minimum Drinking Age Act</div><div class='timeline-text'>The National Minimum Drinking Age Act is passed, setting the legal drinking age at 21 to decrease alcohol-related accidents.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1991</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Interstate Speed Limit Increase</div><div class='timeline-text'>Congress allows states to increase interstate speed limits to 65 mph, prompting discussions about impact on teen driver safety.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1996</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Graduated Driver Licensing System</div><div class='timeline-text'>Florida becomes the first state to implement a Graduated Driver Licensing system to help teenagers gain experience before full licensure.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2007</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>National Youth Traffic Safety Month</div><div class='timeline-text'>National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) organizes the first National Youth Traffic Safety Month to focus on young drivers.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2012</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Texting & Driving Law</div><div class='timeline-text'>States begin implementing laws specifically against texting while driving to combat rising distracted driving incidents among teens.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Host a safe driving workshop</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Partner with your local police department or driving school to host a workshop on safe driving practices for youth. This can include demonstrations, interactive activities, and informational sessions.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Create a social media campaign</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Get creative and use social media to spread awareness about youth traffic safety. You could create a hashtag, share informative graphics, or even host a social media contest with prizes.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Organize a mock car crash demonstration</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Work with your school or community to organize a mock car crash demonstration to show the consequences of unsafe driving. This powerful visual can have a lasting impact on young drivers.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Partner with local businesses for discounts on safe driving classes</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Encourage young drivers to take safe driving classes by partnering with local businesses to offer discounts or promotions. This can also help support small businesses in your community.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Host a car maintenance and safety workshop</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Teach young drivers the importance of car maintenance and safety by hosting a workshop with demonstrations on how to check tire pressure, change a tire, and other basic car care skills.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Encourages safe driving habits among young drivers</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>National Youth Traffic Safety Month brings awareness to the importance of practicing safe driving habits, such as wearing a seatbelt, avoiding distractions while driving, and obeying traffic laws. By highlighting these behaviors during the month of May, it helps instill responsible driving practices in young drivers.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Prevents accidents and fatalities</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Car accidents are one of the leading causes of death among teenagers. National Youth Traffic Safety Month aims to lower this statistic by promoting safe driving habits and educating young drivers on the dangers of reckless driving. By doing so, it can help prevent accidents and save lives.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Provides resources for young drivers and their families</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>During National Youth Traffic Safety Month, various organizations offer resources for parents and teens to use when discussing safe driving practices. This includes informational materials, online tools and apps, and workshops or events dedicated to teen driving safety. These resources can be a helpful starting point for young drivers and their families to have important conversations about road safety.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Teenagers Have the Highest Crash Risk of Any Age Group</h3><p class='facts-content'>According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drivers aged 16 to 19 are nearly three times more likely than drivers aged 20 and older to be in a fatal crash.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Risk Increase with the Number of Teen Passengers</h3><p class='facts-content'>The presence of teenage passengers increases the crash risk of unsupervised teen drivers. The risk increases with the number of teen passengers.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Teen Male Drivers are Twice as Likely to Die in a Car Crash</h3><p class='facts-content'>The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that in 2018, the fatality rate for boys (23.4 out of 100,000) was over twice the rate for girls (11 out of 100,000).</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>26% of Young Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes Had Alcohol in their System</h3><p class='facts-content'>In 2018, 26% of young drivers aged 15 to 20 who were involved in fatal crashes had been drinking. Out of those, 91% were over the age of 18, which is below the minimum legal drinking age in every State.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Seat Belt Use is Lowest Among Teens</h3><p class='facts-content'>According to a 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance survey, among high school students who had driven a vehicle during the past 30 days, the prevalence of not always wearing a seat belt was 8.8%.</p></div></div>
National Youth Traffic Safety Month is celebrated on May 1 every year. In 2024, National Youth Traffic Safety Month will occur on a Wednesday.
2023
May 1
Monday
2024
May 1
Wednesday
2025
May 1
Thursday
2026
May 1
Friday
2027
May 1
Saturday
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
