The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NTSHA) reports that 5,658 young people between the ages of 16-20 were killed in automobile related crashes in 2006 (the most recent year recorded). Overall, 42,642 men women and children died from automoblie related crashes in the USA in 2006.
As a nation, we are not doing enough to reverse this epidemic among teens, with catastrophic results. NHTSA also reports that teenage drivers account for only 7% of the driving population in the U.S., yet they account for 14% of the fatalities and 20% of the collisions.
The Sean Mullsteff Teen Driving Foundation (SMTDF), a Maryland-based non-profit organization, has partnered with educators, law enforcement, traffic safety experts, the media, the entertainment industry, and parents and teens to try to reduce these terrible losses.
The SMTDF founders, Perry and Sue Mullsteff, know firsthand what it’s like to lose a teen in a car accident. Their son, Sean Bryce Mullsteff, was killed in a single car crash in April 2004. To honor his memory, the Mullsteffs have made it their goal to better educate and prepare teens for a lifetime of safe driving. They will fulfill this mission by:
- Conducting community driving safety workshops.
- Collaborating with educators, law enforcement, traffic safety experts and legislators.
- Providing educational resources on teen driving safety.
