A report released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that 8 percent of all drivers admitted to driving when they thought they were over the limit last year. While 8 percent may not sound like a huge number, it translates to 17 million drunk drivers on our roads in the last year! 17 MILLION!

The good news is that the same report found that 4 out of 5 respondents identified drunk driving as a major threat to their safety.

“Our message is loud and clear. If you drive drunk you will be arrested and prosecuted. There will be no exceptions and no excuses. And if you’re below the age of 21, there is zero tolerance for any alcohol in your system whatsoever,” said NHTSA Administrator, David Strickland.

Driving under the influence is one of the top major dangers for teen drivers. Read more on our major dangers page.

Read the full report from NHTSA.

The top five risks for teen drivers are driving at night, distractions (cell phones, too many teen passengers), speeding or racing, not wearing a safety belt, and driving under the influence of alcohol.

Here are a few friendly tips to keep you safe whether you’re driving or riding to school, or going anywhere else in a car:

• Driving at night – Since you’re going to be waking up earlier than you are used to, make sure you go to bed early. Studies show that driving while you’re tired can decrease your reaction time, impair your vision or judgment, and can increase your chances of getting into a car crash. There is no substitute for a good night’s sleep.
• Distractions – Talking and texting on the cell phone while you’re driving is extremely dangerous and has been a hot topic this summer. If you’re too tempted to answer that call or text, turn off your phone while you’re driving. You can always turn it back on when you get to your destination. Teen passengers can also be a big distraction. If you are carrying extra passengers (or are a passenger yourself), make sure they are mindful of the driver’s concentration.
• Speeding or racing – If you double your speed, from 30 mph to 60 mph, the distance it takes you to stop the car is not twice as long, but is FOUR times as long. Don’t be in a rush. The place you’re going will still be there, even if you are five minutes late.
• Wearing your safety belt – Only 25 percent of teen back seat passengers wear their safety belt. Make sure to buckle up every time. Doing so could save your life.
• Driving under the influence of alcohol – Drivers are way less likely to be mindful of the other four risks, when their judgment is clouded by alcohol. Drinking makes you stupid. It can also make you dead.

If your school doesn’t already have a Teens in the Driver Seat program, right now is a great time to start one. Contact your regional representative for more information. If your school is a second year (or more) TDS school, you can order more promotional items.

Here are some easy steps to starting (and maintaining) a TDS program at your school:

1. Decide who is going to be leading the project. Pick the organization that will take on TDS (ex: Student Council, FCCLA, National Honors Society, FFA, etc.). Pick the student leaders who will be in charge of the program (usually 8-12 students). Make sure that there is a teacher/sponsor who will serve as support for the program.
2. Get in touch with your regional representative. These people are staff members who serve as a support for your program. If you need supplies, run out of ideas, or need any help with your program, they will be there to back you up.
3. See what your friends know. The best way to find out where the problem is, is to survey people at your school and figure out what they know and what they need to learn. Your regional representative can provide you with the correct tools to survey.
4. Tell them what they need to know. Think of ways to get the safe driving message out to your peers. You could pass out TDS freebies at sporting events, hold a safe driving day at your school, put up banners, etc. Anything to get them to know more about how to be safe drivers and spread the message.
5. Keep the program going. Make goals to do a special TDS event each six weeks, or month, to ensure that people are learning what the problem is and how they can help fight the number-one killer of teens in America. You can also survey your friends again to see what they learned and gauge how successful your program is..

For more information on Teens in the Driver Seat contact your regional representative or use our online resources.

1. What are your hobbies?

2. In five words or less, describe yourself.
Cautious, curious, determined, classy, and respectful. 

3. Who do you look up to?
I look up to my grandpa. He passed away a year ago but I admired him very much. 

4. If you could change one thing abou the way your friends drive, what would it be?
If I could change one thing about the way my friends drive, it would be the distractions they allow to occur while driving. Many of them blast their stereos while driving, which can be very distracting and prevent you from hearing nearby sounds. 

5. Why are you involved in Teens in the Driver Seat?
I am involved in Teens in the Driver Seat because I believe becoming a safe driver begins when you first start to drive. Many teens neglect the importance of safety and pursuing caution while driving. They are so anxious to be able to drive that they seem to forget the dangerous outcomes of unsafe driving.

The definition of a red light runner is one who enters the intersection after the onset of a red light.

What can you do to stay safe at intersections?

• Keep your eyes on the road. If you’re distracted, you’re less likely to see the light change from green to yellow, or yellow to red. That text message or phone call can wait.

• If you are stopped at a red light and it turns green, look both ways before crossing the intersection to make sure no one else is running a red light.

For more information about red-light safety, check out the Federal Highway Administration’s website.

I found that out on my recent trip to Laredo. 18-wheelers are really different than your average compact car. They have bigger blind spots, take longer to slow down and speed up, and they have almost 5 times the number of tires than a car. On my trip an 18-wheeler had a huge blow out and had I not kept the distance I had, the shredded tire would have smacked my windshield and possibly cracked or broken it. The driver of the 18-wheeler would have had no clue because of his blind spot. I am lucky, but don’t press your luck just keep your distance and be ready to drive defensively.

AT&T Representative Michelle Thomas presents check to TDS Director Russell Henk.

AT&T is the newest partner in the fight against teen car crashes. On July 14 AT&T donated $10,000 to support the continued expansion of Teens in the Driver Seat (TDS) efforts.

“We appreciate the generous support and are happy to have a new partner from the telecommunications industry,” said TDS Director Russell Henk.

AT&T joins other TDS supporters, the Texas Department of Transportation and State Farm Insurance of Texas.

Their involvement is especially encouraging given the danger of distracted driving, and the rapid growth in the number of teens with cell phones.

First place went to Tray Mounce, Carl McClosky, Jason Fry and David Webster. Second place went to Ron Clark, Michael Jacobs, Tome Immenschuh and Matt Langlinais. Alison Kinser won the award for longest drive, and Randall Dillard won the closest to the pin prize.

On behalf of the TDS Program, and our Honorary Event Co-Chairs Dallas Cowboys quarterback (former Texas A&M quarterback) Steven McGee, and Secretary of State Hope Andrade, we would like to thank those who sponsored the event:

• Housman and Associates
• Merrill Lynch
• Texas Slurry Soil Stabilization
• State Farm Insurance
• Chick-Fil-A Pavilions North FSU
• Amy’s Ice Cream
• Golf Galaxy
• Fogo de Chão Churrascaria Brazilian Steakhouse
• Los Agaves Cocina Mexicana
• Silver Eagle Distributors L.P.
• Munchies and More Café
• Frutii Froyo
• Six Flags Friends

Congratulations to everyone involved and many thanks for supporting the second annual Teeing Off for Teens TDS golf tournament. See you again next year!

For teen drivers, summertime typically means more driving. Remember to stay safe when you're on the road.

Summer months are some of the most dangerous for teen drivers. You’ll probably be driving more often which means you should be extra careful when you are on the road.

According to the National Highway Safety Administration, the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is the deadliest for drivers age 15-20. Teens in the Driver Seat wants to give you some tips on ways to stay safe while you’re on the road this summer.

• Driving at Night – There are more hours of sunlight each day, in the summer, but you still need to be careful driving when it gets dark. Avoid driving at night if you can.
• Distractions – You have more time to talk to your friends in the summer. Make sure you’re not talking or texting while you’re driving. Turn your phone on silent when you get in your car.
• Speeding – Make sure you leave for your destination in plenty of time so you aren’t tempted to speed.
• Seat Belt Use – Make buckling up the first thing you do when you get in the car. You’ll probably be doing more driving since it’s summertime, which increases your chances of getting into a crash.
• Drinking and Driving – Simply put, don’t do it. And remember that driving while you are tired is just as bad as driving with a blood alcohol content of .08 (which is illegal in most states). Get plenty of rest to make sure you’re not driving drowsy.

For more information on the top 5 dangers for teen drivers, check out our major dangers page.

There are a lot of lessons I can share about this. ( In ordere for the 1st to make sense I need to explain more) My dad was riding his motorcycle and the man that hit him was driving a 1 ton Dodge truck. the first lesson is no matter what wear a helmet, if my dad was not wearing his he would be dead right now.

A second lesson – savor every moment you have with the people you love, in a split second they could be gone. When the accident happened I was about ten years old, then about a year later when my dad was recovering and able to walk a little I had a church father daughter activity and I was so glad that I was going to get to go. Then on the day of the activity he was in too much pain to go so I went alone, I can not put into words how much it hurt to go and see all of the other girls there with their dads but I was all alone.

I also have a little sister who just had her 7th birthday right before the accident. Imagine being woke up before the sun was up to be told that your dad is being life flighted to the nearest hospital, then getting there and not being able to see him because he’s in the ICU.I know that you have heard it time and time again but please, don’t drink and drive you could not only lose your life but it could be your best friends family or your own parents just think what it would be like to be in my place.

- HP
Salt Lake City, Utah