Repairers are being encouraged to help educate young drivers – and their parents – about the lifesaving importance of paying absolute attention to the road while operating a motor vehicle. Distracted-driving can be a killer, especially for new-behind-the-wheel teenage motorists.

Nearly two of every three people fatally injured in teen-driver crashes are people other than the driver; including the teen’s passengers, drivers and passengers of other vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists, according to government statistics.

The teen-driving road-safety issue is again garnering national media attention following publication of a teen-based driving habits survey and a June crash in New York that claimed the lives of five high school cheerleaders. Authorities suspect the driver was sending and receiving text messages just prior to impact.

The recent survey, conducted by the American Automobile Association (AAA) and SeventeenMagazine, reveals that an alarmingly high number of teen drivers are engaging in critically risky behaviors while in the driver’s seat.

The survey, which is featured in Seventeen’s August issue currently on the newsstands, shows that 61 percent of teenagers admit to dangerous driving habits. Of that 61 percent, 46 percent say that they text message when driving and 51 percent talk on cell phones while driving. The research, conducted in April, covered more than 1,000 16- and 17-year-old drivers.

Motor vehicle wrecks are the No. 1 killer of 15- to 20-year-olds, resulting in the loss of more than 6,000 lives each year, according to crash figures compiled by the U.S. government. July and August have proven to be the deadliest months for 16- and 17-year-old drivers. And although parents may rightfully worry about their kids being out and about on Friday and Saturday nights, an AAA analysis of teen fatalities shows that after-school hours rival weekend nights as being equally dangerous.

“Inexperience behind the wheel coupled with poor decision-making ability make it even more important for teens to stay focused when driving,” says Dr. William Van Tassel, manager of AAA’s driver training division. “Their attention should not be divided among phones, friends and the road.”

Other teens in the vehicle can be a major distraction for teen drivers, and driver distraction is a factor in 25 percent to 50 percent of all crashes. Yet 58 percent of the AAA/Seventeen respondents said they drive with their friends in the car.

The research also reveals that 40 percent of teens exceed the speed limit by 10 miles per hour or more while driving, and 11 percent of teens admit to drinking or using other drugs before getting behind the wheel.

“Teens love to text, talk on their cell phones and hang out with their friends,” says Seventeen Editor-in-Chief Ann Shoket. “But when you mix those social activities with young, inexperienced drivers, the results are dangerous and in many cases fatal. As the country’s largest teen magazine, we want to educate teens about reckless behavior behind the wheel and help them understand the scary consequences.”

“Novice young drivers need experience to gain the proficiency that will help to keep them safe on the road,” Van Tassel says. “It’s critical for teens to drive in the safest environment for at least the first six months of unsupervised driving.”

Making the driving experience safer for teens includes ensuring that they drive during only during daylight hours and stick to familiar roads while traveling without any teen passengers. Parents can be positive role models by exhibiting good driving skills and behavior such as obeying speed limits, being courteous to other drivers, and avoiding the use of electronic devices while driving. “Parental involvement is critical,” he says.

“The teen needs to learn to drive in a safe environment, and the best thing to do is turn the cell phone off,” Van Tassel points out. “Certainly there’s a danger when you have your hand off the wheel and you’re talking with someone.”

Van Tassel stresses that shop owners can play a significant role in educating both teens and parents about sound driving practices with assistance from brochures and other programs available through AAA. “It’s fairly easy for a repair facility to contact your local club and request materials,” he explains. “The Triple A clubs are very active and they would like to partner with safety activities.”

Sue Farley, an AAA spokeswoman, suggests that “you may want to partner with one of your local police departments” and display a damaged car as a means to promote a sobering lesson.

“The sheriff’s and police departments are promoting safe driving,” she notes, and a crash scene reminder is certainly capable of catching peoples’ eyes.

“It raises attention to the issue,” says Van Tassel. “A wrecked car can make a good visual impact, but you don’t want to overdo it.”

It’s important not to overly frighten new drivers – you want them to be careful behind the wheel, not wracked with terror and driving 40 miles per hour on the freeway. Nor should every collision center in town be steadily displaying this type of warning, lest it lose its impact.

(Be conscious of local sensitivities, too. Displaying graphic evidence of an especially horrific tragedy too close to home may be emotionally upsetting to friends and family of the victims. In some circumstances a vehicle brought in from some distance away may be more appropriate for getting the message across.)

According to Van Tassel, shop owners are especially well-positioned for making safety-oriented materials available in their waiting rooms and participating in community outreach efforts. They can sponsor a booth at the county fair or participate in similar crowd-drawing events. And, of course, the name of your business would be affixed to the signage.

“The public is thirsty for new information on teen driving safety,” he observes, citing the array of instructional aids provided through first-responders, other government agencies and safety organizations such as AAA, which is aggressively enhancing its efforts to recruit the repair segment in its endeavors. “By the end of this year we’ll have more programs available and we’ll have more tools for repair shops to direct parents and their teens to,” Van Tassel says.

**An example of AAA’s teen-driver educational materials – a contract between teen and parent spelling out safe driving practices – is available here.