TULSA, Okla — The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office reports 52 teenagers died in car accidents last year.
Back in August 16-year-old Gage Nunes died in a crash in Collinsville. Leaving the Lee family injured.
Investigative records confirm Nunes was driving under the influence at the time.
Previous Coverage>>> 16-year-old boy dies in Collinsville
October 20-26 is National Teen Driver Safety Week. The week encourages parents to hold themselves and their teen drivers accountable.
The National Roadside Safety Foundation told 2 News the biggest factor in accidents is distraction. Thirty percent of drivers are distracted when driving, and this is doubled to 60% for teens who are distracted while driving.
David Reich of NRFS said phones, changing the radio, and having passengers in their car are a few reasons for distracted driving in teens.
Reich said parents need to sit their teens down and talk about the big responsibility while behind the wheel.
"I think parents need to start the talk by saying, 'Listen, I'm not trying to be bossy; I'm not trying to be a pain, but I love you. I don't want to get a call in the middle of the night or have a police officer at my door late at night with this horrendous news. That would destroy me,'” Reich said.
Reich also said teens need to understand that while they are the ones driving, it’s not just themselves; they have to be cautious when driving.
"With the keys comes a big responsibility. Not just to keep themselves safe on the road but how their behavior behind the wheel can affect other people. Other drivers, passengers in your car, even pedestrians,” Reich said.
National Roadside Safety suggests that parents also set boundaries to limit those distractions. Like the number of passengers in the car, a place where teens can place their phones where it can’t distract them.
For more ways to talk to your child about driving click here.
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