New Passenger Safety Program for Your Teen: Countdown2Drive

Does it scare you to think that your 13-or 14-year old will be driving soon?

If you answered no, then these statistics on teen driving will. At age 13 and 14, a teen's risk of dying while riding with a teenage driver is double what it was when they were younger, and it continues to rise each year. And did you know that a teen’s risk of a fatal crash will reach a lifetime high during the first year of independent driving?

If your teen is like most, he or she is probably counting down the days to drive legally. Unfortunately, each state varies in the level of driving safety education and training that will prepare your teen for this milestone.

About the Program

This is why Safe Kids Worldwide, together with the General Motors Foundation, is launching a new program, called Countdown2Drive. This is an easy to use web-based program which is designed to help you discuss and reinforce key safety habits with your teen that can protect him or her when riding with other drivers. And, it's these same behaviors that will help keep your teen safe when he or she can drive legally.

Passenger Agreement

Countdown2Drive will help you create a customized set of guidelines around passenger safety with your teen. Together, you will negotiate a Passenger Agreement that contains rules, rewards, and consequences that work for your unique family.

The Agreement will reinforce safety behaviors such as always wearing a seat belt, reducing driver distraction, and checking in with you when he or she arrives at the destination and when he or she leaves. All of these behaviors will help you worry less when your teen rides in a car with another driver, and it will lay the groundwork to prepare your teen when he or she is ready to get behind the wheel.

We hope you will take the time to take advantage of this new program.