Villa Park police are reminding parents to talk with their teens about safe driving as National Teen Driver Safety Week begins Sunday, Oct. 18.
The Village of Villa Park announced its participation in the awareness campaign alongside the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The week runs through Saturday, Oct. 24.
National numbers show why the conversation matters. In 2024, 2,320 people died in crashes involving a teen driver, according to NHTSA. Of those, 752 were teen drivers themselves. Another 478 were passengers of teen drivers, and 280 of those passengers were fellow teens.
Seat belts remain a factor. In 2024, 51% of teen drivers killed in crashes were unbuckled, NHTSA reported. When the teen driver was unbuckled, nine out of 10 passengers who died were also unbuckled.
Speeding played a role in 33% of fatal crashes involving 15- to 18-year-old drivers that year. And 22% of teen drivers in fatal crashes had been drinking, despite the legal drinking age of 21.
Passengers add risk. A NHTSA-analyzed study found teen drivers were two-and-a-half times more likely to engage in risky behavior with one teenage peer in the car compared to driving alone.
The Villa Park announcement also pointed parents toward Illinois' Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) law. Under that law, teens face several restrictions until they turn 18, including a nighttime driving curfew, a limit of one non-family passenger under 20 for the first 12 months of licensure, and a ban on all cellphone use for drivers under 19, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.
Self-reported surveys show teens whose parents impose driving restrictions typically engage in less risky behavior and are involved in fewer crashes, according to NHTSA.
Parents looking for resources can visit NHTSA's teen driver safety page, which includes tips on setting rules and a parent-teen driving contract template from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
