Gulf Shores, Ala. – The cities of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores recently signed proclamations designating Oct. 14-20 as Teen Driver Safety Week.  This initiative is part of Gulf Shores High School’s “Safe Driving” campaign. 

The National Teen Driver Safety Week was established by Congress in 2007 to focus attention on the fact that motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death for teenagers in the United States.  Gulf Shores High School has partnered with Frances Holk-Jones State Farm, Sunny 105.7, Gulf Shores Service Center and Woodson’s Barge In to promote this campaign locally. It is intended to help parents and teens reduce the high-risk situations that often contribute to motor vehicle accidents for novice drivers.

Some of these high-risk factors include inexperience, distractions, speed, driving at night, and not buckling up.

The Gulf Shores High School “Safe Driving” campaign is being led by the driver education and peer helper students under the instruction of their teachers, Marcus Early and Amy McKenzie.  Their focus is to promote safe driving behaviors throughout the student body.  Campus activities planned include driver safety announcements, posters, videos, awareness activities, a crashed car on campus, and a public service announcement contest.

 Currently, Alabama ranks second in the nation for teen fatalities caused by motor vehicle accidents.  Statistics further show that teen drivers are involved in fatal crashes at four times the rate of adult drivers.  For information on this initiative and safety tips please visit the State Farm Teen Driver Safety website at www.betterteendriving.com .  Additional statistics and resources can be found at the Alabama Department of Public Health website at www.adph.org/teendriving.