The Department of Motor Vehicles is reminding teen drivers and their parents across St. Lawrence County to prioritize safety behind the wheel during Teen Driver Safety Week, Oct. 18-24.

The DMV urges young drivers across the North Country and the state to slow down, put away their phones, avoid impaired driving and wear seat belts.

“Getting behind the wheel is a milestone in a teenager’s life, and in the busy fall season when teens are driving to school, going to sports and activities, and heading out to homecoming celebrations, we want them to be safe,” DMV Acting Commissioner Christian Jackstadt said.

Jackstadt said preventable crashes involving young drivers remain a concern and urged teens to focus on driving.

New York was recently named the safest state for teen drivers for the third consecutive year. However, teens remain overrepresented in crashes, accounting for 7% of drivers involved in crashes while making up only 4% of licensed drivers.

Failure to yield the right of way, following too closely and speeding are the leading contributors to crashes in New York, according to the DMV.

The agency recommends several steps to help teen drivers stay safe:

Buckle up: Everyone in the vehicle should wear a seat belt, regardless of the trip’s length.

Put down the phone: Reading or sending a text takes attention away from the road. At 55 mph, five seconds of distraction is equivalent to driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed. Drivers should set their playlist before leaving, put their phones away or activate the “Do Not Disturb” feature.

Obey speed limits: Speeding puts drivers, passengers and others on the road at risk. In 2024, young drivers had the highest proportion of fatal crashes involving speeding. Nearly 40% of male drivers and 20% of female drivers ages 15 to 20 involved in fatal crashes were speeding.

Never drive impaired: Driving after consuming alcohol, cannabis or illegal drugs, or misusing prescription medication, can have serious consequences, even when no crash occurs.

The DMV offers online resources for teens and parents on driver safety at dmv.ny.gov.