The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Chester County Highway Safety Project, Delaware County Transportation Management Association, Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, and TMA Bucks Community Traffic Safety recently hosted the third annual Southeastern Pennsylvania Teen Safe Driving ROADeo.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 16- to 24-year-olds. Key contributing factors in crashes involving teen drivers in Pennsylvania include driver distractions, driving too fast for conditions, improper or careless turning, and driver inexperience. The ROADeo promoted positive driving behaviors behind the wheel and on the road.
According to PennDOT data, in the Philadelphia region there were 3,868 crashes in 2022 involving a 16- to 19-year-old driver, resulting in 24 fatalities and 118 suspected serious injuries.
The free event, held at the Montgomery Township Community and Recreation Center in Montgomery County, gave teens more experience behind the wheel using educational and interactive demonstrations.
“We had eight stations that provided everything from safety tips to driving simulations, along with stations that demonstrated how to become a defensive driver, what to do during traffic stops, as well as heavy truck blind spots,” said Delaware County Transportation Management Association Project Director Alyson Strigle.
Stations also covered the use of jumper cables, how to check oil and fluids, and how to change a tire.
The Teen Safe Driving ROADeo, open to all high school students in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties, began in 2019. Participation has climbed from 35 students to nearly 100 this year.
For more information on teen driver safety, visit www.PennDOT.pa.gov/Safety.
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