The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is teaming up with the Airport Corridor Transportation Association (ACTA) to support National Teen Driver Safety Week, from October 18 to October 24, 2026. It is important to discuss safe driving habits with teens every day, but Teen Driver Safety Week serves as an opportunity for parents and guardians to have a conversation with teens about safe driving habits. Teen drivers need to know the Rules of the Road before parents hand over the keys. Ultimately, it’s parents who are in control.
Traffic crashes are a leading cause of injury and death for 15-18-year-olds in the United States. In 2024, there were 85,947 teen drivers injured in traffic crashes, 2,320 people killed in crashes involving a teen driver, and 752 were teen drivers themselves. Of the 2,320 people killed in crashes involving a teen driver, 59% of those fatalities were other teens riding with a teen driver. Of those teen passengers killed while riding with another teen driver, 61% were male and 39% were female.
Parents play a critical role in teaching teen drivers safe driving habits. New teen drivers are gaining experience behind the wheel, which increases the chance of dangerous situations for the teen and other roadway users around them. It’s critical for parents to model safe driving behaviors themselves and have discussions with their teens about the choices they make behind the wheel. NHTSA offers parents and guardians helpful tips and a framework for having discussions with teen drivers about risky driving behaviors that can lead to fatal consequences.
It’s a parent’s responsibility to help teen drivers make smart choices to stay safe on the road. NHTSA gives parents and guardians tips on how to talk about safer driving. These tips include discussions on how to influence positive behaviors and how to approach dangerous driving behaviors such as alcohol and other drug use, lack of seat belt use, distracted driving, speeding, or driving with passengers. Surveys show that teens whose parents set firm rules for driving typically engaged in less risky driving behaviors and were involved in fewer crashes.
For more information about teen driver safety, visit NHTSA.gov/TeenDriverSafety.