NEWS RELEASE
BARRIE POLICE SERVICE
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National Teen Driver Safety Week is an annual campaign organized by Parachute; a national charity dedicated to injury prevention.
Road crashes are the third-leading cause of death among young people ages 15 to 24 in Canada. Parachute’s National Teen Driver Safety Week (NTDSW) is an annual campaign to build awareness of teen driver safety issues and to encourage community and youth involvement as part of the solution.
In fatal crashes, drivers aged 20 to 25 were more likely to be distracted than all other age groups, followed by drivers aged 16 to 19. Parachute NTDSW wants to help put a stop to these preventable deaths by bringing awareness to the serious issue of distracted driving among teens and young adults.
“This week we hope that parents and teen drivers will take the time to talk about safe driving behaviours,” said Barrie Police Chief Kimberley Greenwood. “Distracted driving puts all road users at risk and unfortunately young drivers are more likely to be distracted. During National Teen Driver Safety Week, our Service will be addressing some of the most common factors through our social media channels, as well as through increased enforcement.”
This year, the Barrie Police Service’s Traffic Unit and Community Safety and Well-Being Unit will be participating in this initiative, by focusing on distracted driving among teens, texting while driving, speeding, aggressive driving, rail safety and drug and alcohol impairment.
Follow the Barrie Police or Parachute Canada on social media for more information on National Teen Driver Safety Week or visit https://parachute.ca/en/program/national-teen-driver-safety-week/.
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