During 2020, drivers 15 to 20 years old accounted for 11.2% of crashes related to speeding in Michigan. As vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for teen drivers, the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) was provided a grant from Ford Driving Skill for Life and GHSA to develop a state-specific Teen Driver Parental Toolkit focused on teens and speeding.
Partners of the project included representatives from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of State in Michigan and AAA.
The co-branded toolkit includes information about the positive impact of parental involvement, the dangers of teen speeding and driving safely in poor weather conditions, and teen defensive driving programs. It also features resources to assist parents in helping their teens develop safe driving behaviors. The toolkit documents are available on the OHSP website.
Media and Outreach
OHSP conducted a social media campaign to promote the Teen Driving Parental Toolkit and the 30-second PSA, "Put Your Foot Down," which encourages parents to talk to their teen drivers about the dangers of speeding.
Grant funding enabled OHSP and their partners to develop an impactful PSA and toolkit that will be used for years to come to educate parents about the dangers of teens and speeding.