Mangano Announces Road Safety Campaign In Nassau

Highlights “100 Deadliest Days for Teen Drivers”

Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano, Acting Police Commissioner Tom Krumpter, Community Parent Center Director Wendy Tepfer and Marge Lee of DEDICATEDD today announced Nassau’s participation in the United Nation’s (U.N.) “Decade of Action for Road Safety” campaign. As part of the U.N.’s “Decade of Action” event, countless cities across the world launched a “Road Safety Campaign” to address the epidemic of road deaths with the goal of saving millions of lives.

“Spring is an exciting time for teens,” said County Executive Mangano. “It is the season for proms and graduations, the school year is ending, and summer vacation is just around the corner. However, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of injury and death among teenagers and the risk for motor vehicle crashes is higher among 16 to 19 year olds than any other age group.”

Every year, nearly 5,000 teens die in crashes. That equates to 14 teens dying every day. Another 300,000 are injured in car crashes annually. To that end, Wednesday’s crash car demonstration specifically highlighted the “100 Deadliest Days for Teen Drivers,” between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Experts say that the first year of unsupervised driving is the most dangerous. Driver error, speeding, passengers and distractions are the main causes of teen crashes, and can significantly impair a teen’s ability to react quickly to changing traffic conditions.

County Executive Mangano stated: “It is nearly impossible to turn on the evening news and not hear about a tragic car crash that involves fatalities and serious injuries. In many instances, these horrific stories involve some of our youngest residents who pass away long before they get the opportunity to reach their full potential. I worry about the safety and well-being of our young drivers who are very impressionable. That is why Nassau County is doing everything it can to raise awareness about this issue so that no parent ever has to receive tragic news. Parents should expect the unexpected when it comes to their teens’ driving behaviors. This is a crucial time for education, awareness and smart decision making and I ask everyone to help spread the word in promoting road safety for all drivers.”

In the United States, over 30,000 Americans die on the roads every year. In Nassau County of the 41,280 accidents, 3,502 accidents involved teenage drivers between the ages of 16 to 19 years of age.

In addition, each year thousands of teens are killed or injured in traffic crashes as a result of underage drinking. In the past year nationally, more than 7,500 15 to 20 year old drivers and motorcycle operators were involved in fatal traffic crashes across the Nation, 18 percent of whom had a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher, despite the fact that it is illegal for teens to drive after drinking any alcohol. Nationally, 64 percent of all drivers or motorcycle operators ages 15 to 20 who were involved in fatal traffic crashes and had a BAC of .08 or higher died as a result of the crash. Underage drinking is illegal and can have disastrous consequences.

Community Parent Center Director Wendy Tepfer stated: “Car crashes are the leading cause of injury and death for American teens – a statistic that unfortunately hasn’t changeda lot in more than a decade. Underage drinking, drug use, and reckless driving have ruined too many futures and ended too many lives. I believe it is imperative to equip teens and their parents with the knowledge and tools to become smarter drivers, which will help save lives and reduce injuries. Remember: Driving is a privilege, not a right. When teens are handed the keys to a car, they are being given the responsibility for their safety, the safety of those who ride with them and those who share the road with them.”