The New Hampshire Teen Driver program develops, organizes and promotes a sustainable statewide approach to injury prevention with a focus on traffic safety for novice youth operators. The program envisions a New Hampshire where safe driving safe driving is supported through evidence-based strategies that address leading traffic-related and other injury issues, guided by statewide, regional, and national data.
The program is committed to advancing evidence-based practices in injury prevention and supporting communities, schools, and families in reducing teen crash risk. The Youth Operator Program Coordinator works through each school year to design and develop teen highway safety programming for New Hampshire high schools and middle schools. This work includes:
• Developing educational materials
• Providing recommendations for approaching specific traffic-safety topics
• Researching, planning and implementing school and community events
• Coordinating teen-focused safety initiatives and resources
Novice teen drivers face a significantly higher crash risk because they have limited driving and limited life experience to help them recognize and respond to hazards. Their ability to accurately assess risk is still developing. When factors such as distraction, impairment, and fatigue are added, their crash risk increases further - surpassing that of the average, older driver.
Vision: New Hampshire youth drivers make safe choices while in a motor vehicle.
Strategy: Develop a robust traffic safety prevention by maintaining best practice and up to date resources while providing educational material to target and reduce crashes, and unsafe habits of New Hampshire youth drivers.
Mission: To prevent injuries and address leading traffic safety concerns for youth drivers throughout New Hampshire through promotion of evidence-based practices.
Goals: Our goal is to reduce the amount of crashes and prevent crashes for New Hampshire youth drivers.
