New Jersey joins National Teen Driver Safety Week, urging parents to model safe driving habits
TRENTON, N.J. — Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Highway Traffic Safety announced that New Jersey is participating in National Teen Driver Safety Week, taking place October 19–25, 2025.
While it is important to discuss safe driving habits with teens every day, the week serves as an opportunity for parents, guardians, and other adult role models to have intentional conversations with young drivers about these habits. Officials stressed that teen drivers must understand the rules of the road before being handed the keys — and that parents ultimately set the tone for safety.
“New teen drivers are still gaining experience every time they get behind the wheel,” said Attorney General Platkin. “It’s critical for parents especially to model safe driving behaviors themselves and have discussions with their teens about making safe choices behind the wheel.”
“Motor vehicle crashes continue to be a leading cause of death for young people, and their time behind the wheel is particularly dangerous,” said Michael J. Rizol, Jr., Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety. “Parents and other adults play a critical role in teaching teen drivers safe driving habits.”
In 2023, 2,611 people in the United States lost their lives in crashes involving teen drivers. New Jersey, which has one of the nation’s strongest Graduated Driver’s License laws, reports a lower rate of teen driver fatalities compared to other states. Still, over the past decade, 650 people have died in crashes involving teen drivers in New Jersey, including 287 teen drivers and 67 teen passengers.
National Teen Driver Safety Week is coordinated with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which provides parents and guardians with resources to help guide conversations about risky driving behaviors. These include discussions about alcohol and drug use, seat belt use, distracted driving, speeding, and driving with passengers.
According to NHTSA, teens whose parents set firm rules for driving are less likely to engage in risky behaviors and are involved in fewer crashes.
