Traffic on I-80 near Des Moines.
A new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association shows fatal traffic crashes involving teenage drivers increased 10 percent last year compared to 2014.
Rose White, with AAA-Iowa, says distracted driving is the number one cause of teen driver crashes and teen passengers are the number one distraction for those drivers.
“Any passenger should always avoid unnecessary conversations with the driver. That’s a big distraction,” White says. “Also, avoid unnecessary phone use. Always put the cell phone away, but if one must be used, never allow the driver to use it,” White says.
The report claims teen drivers are 1.6 times more likely to be involved in a crash than adults. White says parents should constantly be reminding their teenage drivers about keeping their focus on the road.
“Parents can certainly provide assistance by being a good driver, setting a good example, never using their cell phone, and making sure their teen drivers never do so as well,” White says. This is National Teen Driver Safety Week (October 16-22).