According to a study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 350,000 teenagers were injured in accidents in 2009, so launching a program to help educate teens before jumping behind the wheel is especially aimed at lowering this number.
“Our goal is to educate young teens, as they begin to transition from passengers to drivers,” said John Formisano, president and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide.
“Our research shows teen pre-drivers are eager to learn, and they are focused on the freedom a driver’s license and access to a car can provide. By preparing them to be good passengers, Countdown2Drive can help decrease the number of crashes and injuries that occur during their first and most dangerous year of driving. Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of teens, with driver inexperience and distractions among the main causes of teen crashes.”
The two organizations have also created an online tool that provides an interactive interface for both the drivers and teens to "establish" some basic guidelines for driving and the consequences that could occur if the driver breaks the rules.
“Parents have a great opportunity to lay down family rules and guidelines with the Countdown2Drive program long before the teen is ready to drive. As the dad of two teens, I understand the importance of learning, teaching and modeling safety behaviors while children are young and eager to learn," said U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (Michigan).
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