No other hazard or behavior comes close to claiming as many teen lives as driving. In 2008, 104 teenagers aged 15 - 19 died in car crashes in Virginia.

Involved, informed parents have long been considered the most influential factor in promoting safe teen driving. The mission of Partners for Safe Teen Driving is to help communities develop a parent education program, so that parents can guide their children through the first perilous years of driving.

Many school divisions and communities in Virginia have partnered to develop Safe Teen Driving programs. Approximately 38 communities now require parents of teen drivers to attend a mandatory meeting. At this meeting, parents receive information about Virginia's graduated licensing procedures, current driving techniques, procedures for helping teach their children to drive, curfew restrictions, and more.

A kit with step-by-step information about how communities can start their own programs has been sent to every school division in Virginia. CLICK HERE for more information.

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From the Charlottesville Daily Progress: What exactly has caused the decline in crashes among high school students is unclear, but local officials say relatively new mandatory seminars for parents might have something to do with it. “Educators have been saying for years: If mom and dad get involved in the education of their kids, good things are going to happen,” said Richard Wharam, community education coordinator for Albemarle schools. For more information on this story, CLICK HERE.