October 20th to 26th Is Teen Driver Safety Week
Sunday, October 20th, 2013 -- 8:47 AM
Traffic crashes kill more teenagers in Wisconsin and the rest of the nation than any other cause of death.Last year, 48 teenagers were killed and more than 5,300 were injured in traffic crashes in Wisconsin, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
To help prevent deaths and injuries among teenage motorists by encouraging better decision making and safety conscious behavior, Governor Scott Walker has proclaimed the week of October 20th to 26th as Teen Driver Safety Week in Wisconsin.
The reasons why teens continue to be killed and injured in traffic crashes at an alarming rate are no mystery, according to David Pabst, director of the WisDOT Bureau of Transportation Safety.
"Teens are more likely to crash because typically they are inexperienced behind the wheel," says Pabst. "They also tend to speed, drive aggressively and not buckle up. In addition, teens are prone to distracted driving. State law prohibits drivers with an instruction permit or probationary license, which includes many teenagers, from using a cell phone while driving except to report an emergency. Another state law prohibits texting while driving for all motorists. Despite these laws, too many teens still talk or text on mobile devices when all their attention should be focused on driving."
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