HHS HealthBeat (November 29, 2010)

Safer teen drivers

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say more than 1,400 16- and 17-year-old drivers were involved in fatal crashes in 2008. That’s more than any other age group.

But the CDC’s Dr. Arlene Greenspan says rates have been falling, due in part to graduated licenses which limit teens’ independent driving under high-risk conditions.

Dr. Greenspan says parents can help, by modeling good driving, and monitoring their teen’s driving.

``This can best be done with a parent-teen driving agreement, where parents and teens decide the limits that should be placed on the teen’s driving, and consequences.’’ (11 seconds)

The study is in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: May 7, 2011