ALLENTOWN, Pa. – According to PennDOT, from 2021 to 2025, there were 79,625 crashes involving teen drivers across Pennsylvania. 486 of those were deadly.
That’s why officials are emphasizing teen driver safety.
“Driving is a significant milestone in a young person’s life; it’s also a huge responsibility in that young person’s life,” says Larry Shifflet, PennDOT executive secretary.
This week is Teen Driver Safety Week, a time to emphasize the importance of being responsible behind the wheel.
“Teens are brand new; they don’t have the experience that a lot of us have,” says Andre Wilkerson.
Andre Wilkerson is the CEO and owner of AW Driving School and Testing Center, a certified driving school and third-party PennDOT tester located in Allentown.
“A lot of the teens are watching their parents drive and their parents are not realizing some of the mistakes that they’re making are bad habits. Yellow means prepare to stop not run,” says Wilkerson.
When it comes to teaching your child how to drive correctly, Wilkerson says patience, practice, and awareness are key.
“Tell them what you see, hey I see this white car over here I see this pedestrian in the crosswalk over here I see the light is about to change so they’ll learn what you actually see as a safe driver,” says Wilkerson.
To mark Teen Driver Safety Week, PennDOT and the Pennsylvania State Police are launching a new social media campaign with helpful how-to videos.
For more information, visit:
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) | Facebook
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation – YouTube
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