National Institutes of Health-based program and Illinois-tailored, driving-stage-specific information highlight offerings at IllinoisTeenDriving.com

AURORA, Ill., Oct. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- AAA Chicago and the Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White empower parents to get involved with their teens' learning-to-drive process with the launch of their joint, new teen driver safety website, which can be found at IllinoisTeenDriving.com or TeenDriving.AAA.com. The interactive site helps parents and teens manage the complex coming-of-age process by providing users with specific information based on Illinois laws and where they are in the learning process – from preparing to drive (pre-permit) through the learner's permit and solo driving.

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"Parents and teens alike have many questions about all aspects of the learning-to-drive process," said Brad Roeber, AAA Chicago Regional President. "AAA has partnered with Illinois' foremost leader on teen driving, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, to combine the resources of his office with AAA's to provide a comprehensive, best-in-class tool before, during and after teens learn to drive."

At IllinoisTeenDriving.com, parents will find information about Illinois' graduated driver licensing (GDL) system, selecting a driving school and choosing the right vehicle for their teens. Parents will also learn more about some of the common risks associated with teen drivers. Among other topics, teens can take interactive quizzes to prepare for the driving exam, learn the real costs of owning a car, and learn the Illinois laws and fines.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White has long been an advocate for teen driving safety. In 2007 under his leadership, a statewide Teen Driving Safety Task Force was formed that led to Illinois' reformed GDL laws in 2008. Since those laws took effect, teen driving deaths have dropped over 50 percent, from 146 teen fatalities to 71 teen fatalities in 2009, according to the Illinois State Police.

"I am pleased and encouraged that the number of teen crash fatalities continues to drop since my Teen Driver Safety Task Force issued recommendations that led to the strengthening of Illinois' graduated driver licensing (GDL) program," said Secretary White. "Since the stronger GDL program took effect in 2008, teen driving deaths have dropped by over 50 percent. This Web site acts as a wonderful compliment to the GDL Parent-Teen Driving Guide my office developed and will further help parents and teens steer safely through the driving process for years to come.  I commend AAA Chicago for their ongoing commitment to highway safety."

In a recent year-long study, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reported that roughly half of parents said they wanted their teen to get "a lot of practice" before getting a driver's license. But on average parents reported teens drove less than two hours per week. When asked why their teen didn't receive more practice, nearly 70 percent of parents cited busy schedules for both themselves and their teen, exposing a need for both parents and teens to prioritize driver training and practice.

"As a parent of a teen driver, I understand how busy schedules can be. But parents need to find the time to work with their children to prepare them for the challenges and hazards of driving, keep them safe and help reduce teen driving crashes, injuries and deaths," said Roeber.  "With this new website, AAA and the Illinois Secretary of State are helping parents make the most of this important part of their teens' lives."

SOURCE AAA Chicago

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