Shapiro Administration Highlights the Importance of Teen Driver Safety

Teen Driver Safety Week, the Pennsylvania Departments of Transportation (PennDOT), Education (PDE), Insurance (PID), and the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) visited Red Land High School to highlight the importance of teaching teen driver safety and launch a new social media campaign featuring tips on vehicle maintenance and safety behind the wheel to prepare young drivers - and all drivers - to safely navigate different scenarios they may face before leaving home and while on the road.

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death among teenagers. In Pennsylvania from 2021 to 2025, there were 79,625 crashes involving at least one 16- to 19-year-old driver, resulting in 486 fatalities. 62 percent of those crashes involved a teen driver driving too fast for conditions (22,635 crashes), improper/careless turning (14,477), driver distraction (10,188), or driver inexperience (7,064).

"Driving is an exciting milestone in a young person's life, and also a huge responsibility," said PennDOT Executive Deputy Secretary Larry Shifflet. "Parents and teachers can help set a good example by making safe driving choices themselves, and we're hopeful that these how-to videos will be a helpful resource to teens and their families."