Florida Whites Out Teen Crashes This Teen Driver Safety Week
CONTACT: COURTNEY HEIDELBERG
(850) 617-3102
FLORIDA WHITES OUT TEEN CRASHES THIS TEEN DRIVER SAFETY WEEK
~ Events across the state educate teens on safe driving habits ~
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles urged everyone to wear white today to symbolize the effort to white out teen crashes during 2012’s Teen Driver Safety Week
(Oct. 14 – 20). Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death among teens.
More than 700,000 teenagers have driver licenses in Florida. In 2011, nearly 30,000 teen drivers in the state were involved in crashes resulting in the death of 180 teenagers aged 15 to 19.
Today, DHSMV and its Division of the Florida Highway Patrol along with safety partners sponsored presentations at high schools in Miami, Tampa, Apopka and Tallahassee. A non-profit organization, Stay Alive From Education (aka S.A.F.E.), teamed up to provide the presentations that dramatize a traffic crash as viewed through the eyes of paramedics. FHP helped bring home the message to young drivers about the importance of buckling up, driving sober, removing distractions and limiting the number of peers in a car.
“Getting your driver license for the first time is a rite of passage and a very exciting time for teens as they gain added independence,” said DHSMV Executive Director Julie L. Jones. “It is important that teens learn to be safe drivers from the beginning, and we encourage parents to be involved and set good examples for their children. Our Drive with CARE program provides useful resources for teens and parents.”
Drive with CARE – Courtesy, Attention, Responsibility and Experience brings safety messages and presentations to teens year-round. The website for the program, www.flhsmv.gov/teens, provides information for teens and parents in English and in Spanish, including information on Florida’s graduated licensing law.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles provides highway safety and security through excellence in service, education and enforcement. The Department is leading the way to a safer Florida through the efficient and professional execution of its core mission: the issuance of driver licenses, vehicle tags and titles and operation of the Florida Highway Patrol. To learn more about DHSMV and the services offered, visit www.flhsmv.gov, follow us on Twitter at @FDHSMV or find us on Facebook.
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The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is committed to Service, Integrity, Courtesy, Professionalism, Innovation and Excellence in all we do. Please let us know how we are doing via our online customer service survey at https://www.research.net/s/MLR9RGC.
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