“Drive to Live 2016? Focuses on Teen Drivers

According to an article on WRAL.com, the North Carolina Highway Patrol announced a new initiative called “Drive to Live 2016.” The goal to help reduce the number of traffic collisions and deaths involving teen drivers through stricter monitoring of roadways, and on-site educations

 The program was created after a 2015 investigation by the State Highway Patrol studied over 58,812 motor collisions involving drivers and passengers between the ages of 15 and 19. Of those accidents, fatalities were reported in 107 of the cases, and 10,501 teenagers were injured.

Starting today, state troopers will provide extra enforcement of all traffic laws on streets around schools between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m.. Beginning next week, officials will hold traffic safety education programs at N.C. high schools, covering issues such as distracted driving. (According to the Highway Patrol, 10 percent of all distracted driving crashes involve drivers under age 20.)

We applaud the extra effort by the Highway Patrol in helping to reduce teen traffic accidents. We read too many stories of valuable lives cut short. May this be a victim-free spring!