If you ask 100 people what driving means to them, it’s very likely you’ll get 100 different answers. For some, driving is a necessary evil; a means of transportation and nothing more. For others, it’s a passion and a lifestyle – or perhaps even a profession. No matter your point of view though, getting behind the wheel is one the most dangerous things we do on a day-to-day basis, and many accidents stem from lack of information.
National Teen Driver Safety Week (NTDSW) runs October 18 to October 24, and in an effort to keep our roads safer, Michelin North America and Yahoo Global News Anchor Katie Couric are urging drivers to share their best safe driving advice with the #SharingSafety social media hashtag. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration claims that car crashes remain the number one killer of teens in the U.S., with 2,614 passenger vehicle drivers aged 15-19 involved in fatal crashes in 2013. So whether you have a pre-startup checklist or simple highway tips handy, now is the time to put on your virtual driving instructor hat.
“We want to draw people into a national conversation about road safety during National Teen Driver Safety Week,” said Pete Selleck, President of Michelin North America. “Sharing even simple tips like how to maintain tires could mean the difference between life or death.”
In anticipation of NTDSW, Michelin conducted a survey of 1,015 adult Americans to see where exactly drivers get their advice from in 2015. According to the study, 52 percent of new motorists turn to their dad for help while 32 percent will ask their mom. Driving instructors slot just below the parental units at 27 percent.
Despite the numerous sources of automotive guidance out there, 69 percent of surveyed Americans witness others ignoring safe driving practices every day, and 73 percent have witnessed or experienced an accident firsthand. 81 percent of motorists rank themselves highly though, so if you’re one of them, make your voice heard with #SharingSafety.
