Website offers information regarding teenage drivers

Anew website, NJteenDriving.com, will help increase awareness and educate parents about the risks associated with teen driving. The site was developed by the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey upon recognizing that an informed parent plays a key role in keeping teens and young adults safe on New Jersey's roads.

According to a press release from the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey, providing web-based resources for driving safety is an initiative recommended by the Teen Driver Study Commission, a 15-member commission charged with assessing the state of teen driving in New Jersey and making recommendations to help reduce crashes and save lives.

The New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety has provided funding for the development and ongoing maintenance of NJteenDriving.com, as well as its partner website, UGotBrains.com, which is geared toward teens.

Information available on NJteenDriving. com includes: the risk factors that play a role in teen crashes; details of the Graduated Driver License program (GDL); current and relevant legislation related to teens getting behind the wheel; and several easyto navigate features, including videos, news articles, an interactive teen crash site map, tips, and important contacts.

Division of Highway Traffic Safety Director Pam Fischer, who chaired the state's Teen Driver Study Commission, noted that there is an average of 6,000 teens killed and 300,000 injured each year across the nation in traffic crashes.

In 2008 in New Jersey, 37 teen drivers and 23 teen passengers driven by teens lost their lives in traffic crashes, with distractions, inexperience, speed and the lack of seat belt use cited as prevalent factors in these tragedies.

"Teen drivers face the greatest risks during their first 24 months on the roads," Fischer said. "It's critical to engage parents as early as possible in fully understanding these risks, and how they can make the biggest difference in ensuring their teen's safety behind the wheel. This new website will help familiarize parents with the Graduated Driver License law long before the licensing process begins, and provide life-saving information and resources that they can share with their teens."

"A car crash can change your life in an instant," said Barbara Geiger-Parker, president and CEO of the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey. "Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death and disability in teens and young adults. And while many teens lose their lives on our roads, many more are living with disabilities as a result of these crashes.

The Brain Injury Association of New Jersey is a statewide organization committed to supporting and advocating for individuals affected by brain injury and raising public awareness through education and prevention. For more information on the services and resources of the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey, call the toll-free helpline at 1-800-669-4323 or visit www.njteendriving. com.