January is Teen Driving Awareness Month

Published on January 12, 2026

Teen Driving Awareness Month is observed every year in January to raise awareness and educate teen drivers and their parents about the risks they face while driving. Some key reminders for teen drivers are to be mindful of speed, avoid distracted driving and always use seatbelts. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that teenage drivers are three times more prone to being involved in a collision than those who are 20 years and older. This is a great time for families to bring up safety measures and establish good driving habits to help prevent roadway accidents.

The Menlo Park Police Department recommends discussing the following precautions with your teen driver:

• Remind everyone to buckle up before putting the vehicle in drive.
• Discuss the dangers of impaired driving, including prescription drugs.
• Emphasize putting phones away while driving. This means entering your destination into the navigation system before leaving.
• Remind drivers that speed reduces reaction time and increases the distance needed to stop. Reducing speed can help you avoid collisions.

Visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Teen Driving page for more tips and resources. Parents should use this national campaign to have a discussion on safe driving with their teen driver. Together, we can make the roads a safer place for everyone in the community.