Teen Driver Safety Week (2009)

Teen Driver Safety Week

WHEREAS, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for adolescents and young adults in the United States; and

WHEREAS, the fatality rate in the United States for drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 years of age, based on miles driven, is four times the fatality rate for drivers between the ages of 25 and 69 years; and

WHEREAS, the majority of teen driver crashes in the United States are due to driver error and speeding, 15 percent of the crashes are due to drunk driving, and approximately two-thirds of the teenagers killed in motor vehicle accidents in the United States each year do not use seatbelts; and

WHEREAS, approximately 63 percent of teen passenger deaths in the United States occur while other teenagers are driving; and

WHEREAS, most teenage accidents, based on claim data, occur during October; and

WHEREAS, it is necessary to explore effective ways to reduce the crash risk for young drivers by focusing research and outreach efforts on areas of teen driving that show the most promise for improving safety; and

WHEREAS, the third week of October is designated Teen Driver Safety Week to increase awareness of these important issues among teenagers and adults in communities throughout the Commonwealth and the nation;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Timothy M. Kaine, October 18-24, 2009 as TEEN DRIVER SAFETY WEEK in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.