WAUKEE, Iowa — Car accidents are one of the leading causes of death for teenagers.
That's why National Teen Driver Safety Week encourages families to speak with their teen drivers about staying safe on the roads.
National Teen Driver Safety Week 2023 is from Oct. 15-21.
As Iowa teenagers get behind the wheel, the Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) hopes National Teen Driver Safety Week reminds teens and their families that nothing is more important than making it home safely.
"It gives parents and caregivers an opportunity to speak to their kids about driving safely and making good habits," said Genie Sterbenz, a program administrator with the GTSB.
The GTSB administers several programs to help teen drivers, including the Seatbelts Are For Everyone, or SAFE, program.
It's currently in over 30 Iowa high schools and is led by students who urge their peers to always wear a seatbelt.
"Students actually listen to each other, rather than listening to people older than them or even their parents or caregivers,” Sterbenz said.
Waukee High School student body president Quinn Monson said SAFE is an important program for him and his classmates.
"Teenage driver safety is a really huge issue that Iowa faces,” Monson said.
According to the GTSB, there have been 31 deaths as a result of crashes that involved a teenage driver so far in 2023.
Causes of those crashes include speeding, distracted driving, drug or alcohol impairment and not wearing seatbelts.
"Obviously there are many tragic stories of kids not wearing their seat belts and getting in tragic accidents,” Monson said. “I actually know one of my friends, one of her roommates from college, she passed away in a car accident last year. And I know it was a really big, traumatic deal on her, so I think it's really important that if we can promote to wear seat belts, less of that can happen."
Monson said he thinks it's important his fellow teen drivers know the potential impacts of distracted and dangerous driving habits.
"I know a lot of kids think it's not that big of a deal 'Oh, I can shoot a quick text,'" Monson said. "But it's really like a life or death situation. Wear your seat belt, don't go on your phone while you're driving, don't be distracted and everyone will be safe."
In Iowa, teenagers are eligible for a Minor School License once they are 14.5-years-old.