Gwen Rummell Reporting –
Statistic show that teenage drivers have a higher rate of fatal crashes, mainly due to immaturity, lack of skills, and lack of experience.
To curb the amount of accidents involving youth, the Ohio State Highway Patrol created the DRIVE to Live education program.
Sergeant Brian Hawkins says the program positively engages young drivers in conversations about good decision-making.
“Our main goal is just to encourage teen drivers to plan ahead when traveling in order to eliminate rush, make sure they wear their safety belts, and obviously with the new law that came out, with being a teen, you’re not able to be on your phone.”
The leading causes of youth driver crashes were following too close and failure to yield. Sergeant Hawkins adds that underage drinking and texting while driving is not currently a reoccurring issue in Tuscarawas County.
The patrol offers presentations at area schools and driving instruction facilities.
Copyright WTUZ Radio Inc., 2023