'Tis the Season for Teens to Stay Focused On The Road While Driving

Mobile Phone Usage, In-Car Eating Top List of Driver Distractions Causing Accidents

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Dec. 18 -- As students head "home-for- the-holidays" at the end of this week, Takata, the world's leading safety belt manufacturer, has developed a list of safe driving "Tips for Teens" to follow while driving this holiday season. In addition to always buckling up, Takata wants to remind teens to take extra precautions this holiday season to help reduce the number of roadway accidents.

Minimizing distractions tops the list of safety precautions to reduce the chance of being in an accident. Mobile phones and in-car eating are the two leading distractions resulting in more than 4,000 traffic accidents per day, according to the National Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Teens frequently carry more than one passenger in their vehicle, which is also a primary driving distraction leading to accidents. The crash rate is four times higher for teen drivers with three or more passengers versus a single driver.

Below is the list of "Tips for Teens" to consider while driving this holiday season:

    -- Buckle Up!  Everyone in the car, every time!
    -- Leave the mobile phone at home, or turn it off while driving.
    -- Drive with as few passengers as possible, and be extra cautious when
       driving with friends in the car.
    -- It is the winter season, so take extra seasonal precautions, and
       expect inclement weather.
         * Thoroughly clean windows before driving
         * Allow extra time to reach your destination
         * Turn on your headlights anytime there is fog, rain, sleet or snow
         * Double/triple the space between you and the car in front of you
           during any type of precipitation
         * Check to make sure brakes and windshield wipers are working
           properly before driving
         * Carry an emergency kit: Items to include are an ice scraper,
           windshield washer fluid, warm blanket, jumper cables, lock de-
           icer, and a flashlight
         * Never let your gas tank go below half-full

Each year 7,000 highway deaths are associated with approximately 1.2 million weather related incidents.

Takata also strongly encourages parents to talk to their young drivers about safe driving habits. Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for teens, resulting in more than 5,000 deaths per year, according to the NHTSA. Many of these accidents are caused by driver distractions.

"As a company dedicated to saving lives, it is important that we arm teen drivers with information to help them make better choices while driving," explained Alby Berman, vice president communications, Takata. "Teens face numerous distractions while driving that did not exist in the past. All of these added potential distractions can increase the probability of an accident, resulting in serious injury or death. It is all of our jobs as parents and fellow drivers to help teach teens safe driving practices -- and staying focused is critical."

Takata, the world's leading supplier of automotive safety belts, has a long history of safety innovation and provides a host of safety technologies with the goal of protecting human life. The company's product portfolio includes seat belts, front- and side-impact protection, electronics and textiles. The company, with its North American headquarters in Auburn Hills, is involved in many consumer and government safety efforts, including being a corporate sponsor and active board member of the Traffic Improvement Association of Michigan.