Dear Partners,
October is a significant month for injury and violence prevention awareness, with Bullying Prevention, Domestic Violence Prevention and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Months underway. As we focus our attention on these areas, I also want to call attention to Teen Driver Safety Week and the urgency to address motor vehicle traffic safety for teens.
With the pandemic continuing, many teens are not getting the same behind-the-wheel driving experience and will need our support to understand the risks associated with driving and how to keep themselves, their peers, and loved ones safe.
Per mile driven, teen drivers (16-19 years old) are nearly three times as likely to be in in fatal crash as drivers 20 years old and older. In 2019, almost seven teens a day lost their lives in car crashes. Education, engineering, and enforcement are three places where caregivers, peers, and communities can play a significant role.
Please widely share the below resources with your networks. Throughout this newsletter, you will find resources from our Children's Safety Now Alliance partners highlighted in purple.
Kindly,
Jennifer Leonardo, PhD
Children’s Safety Network Director