WASHINGTON, Oct. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- In support of this year's National Teen Driver Safety Week (NTDSW) from October 20-26, the online education experts at Driving-Tests.org are helping to raise awareness about the importance of safer driving for teenagers.

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According to NTDSW organizers, "Motor vehicle crashes remain the primary cause of death for adolescents. Teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are involved in four times the fatal crashes as adult drivers ages 25 to 69. Each year, more than 5,000 teens are killed in motor vehicle crashes."

Driving experts believe knowledge is power; teen drivers are encouraged to focus on the road and maintain awareness of safe driving standards. A recent study by The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute found that 75 percent of serious teen crashes were due to a critical teen driver error, with the following three critical errors accounting for nearly half of all crashes:

1. Driving too fast for road conditions by exceeding the speed limit

2. Being distracted by something inside or outside the vehicle

3. Failing to detect a hazard in time to react appropriately

This year's NTDSW theme is 'It Takes Two: Shared Expectations for Teens and Parents for Driving.' Celebrities Jesse McCartney, Oprah Winfrey and more have formally endorsed the week; together with State Farm Insurance,Kelly Clarkson has also taken on the cause to help raise awareness for this year's NTDSW.  

Many teens are curious to know how they might become better drivers just as many parents might be asking "How can I help my child be safer on the road?" The following safety tips for teen drivers are recommended by the organizers of NTDSW:

• Practice makes perfect. LeBron James didn't become one of today's top basketball players without practicing his fadeaway jumper. Although it's unlikely you will become the greatest driver ever— you get the point. Make sure to log your hours and advocate for at least 65 hours of supervised practice in various locations and different kinds of weather.

• Make sure your parent teaches you critical driving skills. Sometimes it's difficult to listen to your parent, when practicing your driving skills, try to accept their constructive criticism. Know these skills to avoid the three common errors that most frequently lead to teen crashes:

  • Manage your speed – Look out for the speed limit; adjust your speed in congested zones and residential areas, bad weather and on poorly lit roads.

  • Recognize and avoid distractions – As much as you want to chauffeur all your friends to the mall, you should limit the number of passengers in your car, turn off the cell phone and lower volume on the radio when in motion.

ABOUT DRIVING-TESTS.ORG: Driving-Tests.org is a leading online educational learning site that offers free permit practice test services to U.S. learner drivers. Since 2010, Driving-Tests.org has issued over 4.5 million practice permit tests; over 350,000 Americans use driving-tests.org practice tests every month to prepare for their permit test. Written by a team of automotive and online education experts, the company offers over 550 unique practice permit tests for motor vehicles and motorcycles. To learn more, visitdriving-tests.org

ABOUT NATIONAL TEEN DRIVER SAFETY WEEK (NTDSW): After a series of tragic crashes involving Pennsylvania high school students, Representatives Charlie Dent (R- PA) and Senator Bob Casey (D- PA) and over 50 co-sponsors introduced the resolution creating National Teen Driver Safety Week in October 2007. The initiative was supported by the traffic safety experts at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company. To learn more, visit www.teendriversource.org

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Media Contact: Kimberly Cayce, Vitamine*E | Marketing + Communications, 310-963-1095, kimberly@vitaminemc.com

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SOURCE Driving-Tests.org

RELATED LINKShttp://www.driving-tests.org