KENNEWICK, Wash. – As National Teen Driver Safety Week begins, the Kennewick Police Department emphasizes the role of parents in shaping safe driving habits for their teens.
Parents can set a positive example by avoiding distractions behind the wheel and following traffic laws. The Kennewick Police Department warns that kids often mirror what they see, such as using a phone while driving or running stop signs.
“I always like to tell teams they have to drive defensively. They can be doing everything right while they’re on the roadway, but other motorists sometimes might be distracted or driving too fast,” Kennewick Police Officer Sebastian Castilleja said. “So it’s up to us to really be cognizant of that and drive within our means as safely as possible.”
Carolee Birge, owner of Accurate Driving Academy, also advocates for parents to help their teens learn how to drive. Extra practice in an empty parking lot can go a long way.
“They’re (teens) involved in these preventable collisions that kill people and kill themselves or other people. And if they’re trained properly, it’s going to save maybe your kid’s life or the neighbor’s kid’s life,” Birge said.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration highlights the dangers teen drivers face. According to the NHTSA, In 2022, over 800 teen drivers died in crashes, and more than 2,500 were involved in fatal incidents.
