While teen driving fatalities were up nearly
20 percent nationally in the first half of 2012, here in Washington no lives
were lost behind the wheel among 16- and 17-year-old drivers.
That's according to the preliminary Teenage
Driver Fatalities by State Report released today by the Governors Highway Safety Association.
The good news might have something to do with the fact
that Washington has the
highest seat-belt use rate in the nation.
Or perhaps it's because last year 46 schools across
our state signed up for the Distracted
Driving grant project offered by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission
and State Farm Insurance. Program Manager Jonna VanDyk said they expect about
twice as many schools to participate in 2013.
Whatever the reason, we're lifting our
water/soda/juice glasses and cheering "hear, hear!" for Washington's smart teen drivers.
Read this story in Spanish.
Read this story in Spanish.
