The Allstate Foundation and the National Association of Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) sponsor Youth Traffic Safety Awareness Month each May with the help of the government, corporate leaders, communities, parents, and young people.
The fact that teenage lives get busier near the end of the school year increases the need to raise awareness of teen driving safety: May, June, July, and August can be some of the most dangerous months for young drivers. The most tragic part of a car accident is that most of them are preventable with a bit of attention and education.
While you can talk to your child at home about the dangers of the road and encourage them to be a safe driver, it’s possible that you’ll need a bit of extra help. That’s where the extra safety initiatives this month can help.
Youth Traffic Safety Awareness Month focuses on educating young people about traffic safety and empowering young people with knowledge and positive influences. It does this through student engagement with each other and within their communities. Using a peer-to-peer approach, which can reach young people in ways that teachers or parents might not be able to, the ultimate goal is to get teenagers engaged and involved in their own efforts to keep themselves and their friends safe.
Playing an active role in making safe and smart decisions gives teens the independence they crave, and holding one another accountable helps ensure they’re paying attention, rather than tuning out a lecture.