As part of its ongoing mission to promote safer roads for all drivers, the National Road Safety Foundation (NRSF) is engaging both the next generation of innovators and the nation’s youngest drivers. This fall, NRSF is spotlighting two major initiatives: National Teen Driver Safety Week, which encourages parents to talk with their teens about safe driving habits, and the launch of the Designs for Safety competition, a national contest challenging college students to envision autonomous vehicles that prioritize safety in their design. Together, these efforts reflect NRSF’s comprehensive approach to saving lives—by inspiring responsible behavior behind the wheel today and shaping the technology that will define safer transportation tomorrow.
Time to Talk Safety
As National Teen Driver Safety Week approaches, the National Road Safety Foundation and Students Against Destructive Decisions are urging parents to sit down with their teenagers and talk—really talk—about driving safely. The annual campaign, running Oct. 19–25, comes amid troubling statistics that show car crashes remain one of the leading causes of death among American teens.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2,611 people were killed and more than 170,000 injured in crashes involving teen drivers last year. Inexperience, safety experts say, remains a defining factor. Teen drivers are more likely than older motorists to misjudge road conditions or fail to react to danger quickly enough.
“Parents need to be proactive and begin a conversation about safe driving,” said Michelle Anderson, director of operations at the National Road Safety Foundation. “These talks can literally save lives.”
Teen drivers face a mix of dangers—many of them preventable. Distracted driving remains a leading cause of fatal crashes. One in three teens who text admits doing so while driving, despite research showing that texting increases crash risk by more than twentyfold. Speeding plays a role in nearly a third of teen-related fatalities, while the presence of teenage passengers can triple the likelihood of risky behavior.
Substance use, though less common among young drivers, remains a persistent concern. In 2021, 19 percent of teen drivers involved in fatal crashes had alcohol in their systems. Even legal substances, from prescription medications to marijuana, can impair judgment and slow reaction times.
Seat belts—among the simplest and most effective safety measures—are still too often ignored. More than half of all teen drivers killed in crashes were unbuckled. “Parents should insist that everyone in the car buckles up before the vehicle moves,” Anderson said.
For many families, modeling responsible habits can be as influential as any lecture. “Parents often think their teens aren’t listening,” Anderson added. “But they are watching. It’s up to us to show them what safe driving looks like long before they get their learner’s permit.”
Student leaders agree that safety must be an ongoing effort. “Teen Driver Safety Week is more than raising awareness—it’s about making real change,” said Shourya Shavkani, president of the SADD National Student Leadership Council. “Through programs like ours, we can start conversations with our peers and create initiatives that truly save lives.”
The National Road Safety Foundation offers free materials to help guide these discussions, including its Passport to Safe Driving, available at nrsf.org/passport-safe-driving.
NSF & NYIAS $10,000 “Designs for Safety” Competition
The National Road Safety Foundation and the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, organizers of the New York International Auto Show, have launched the Designs for Safety Competition, inviting college students nationwide to create autonomous vehicle designs centered on safety. The contest offers more than $10,000 in prizes and scholarships.
Students are encouraged to submit both artistic renderings and scale models showcasing innovation, aesthetics, and life-saving potential. Entries will be judged by a panel of industry and safety experts, with first place earning $4,000 and additional awards for runners-up and their schools.
Submissions are due by March 13, 2026, and finalists will be showcased at the World Traffic Safety Symposium during the New York Auto Show on April 2. The competition aims to inspire the next generation of designers to make autonomous vehicles safer for everyone on the road.
Founded more than 60 years ago, the nonprofit organization continues to champion education and public awareness campaigns aimed at reducing crashes, injuries, and fatalities on America’s roads.