Do you know the “5 to Drive” rules? They’re
the theme for National Teen Driver Safety Week from Oct. 18-24.
The “5 to Drive” campaign gives parents the words to use when they talk with their teens
about the rules of the road. The Safer Car website has more information and statistics.
The “5 to Drive” rules for parents to share
with their teens are:
-
No Drinking and Driving
- almost one out of five (19 percent) of young drivers (15 to 19 years
old) involved in fatal crashes had been drinking, even though they were
too young to legally buy or possess alcohol.
-
Buckle Up. Every Trip. Every Time. Front
Seat and Back. – 64 percent of all the young (13- to
19-year-old) passengers of teen drivers who died in
motor vehicle crashes in 2013 weren’t restrained.
-
Put It Down. One Text or Call Could Wreck
It All - The age group of 15 to 19 years old has
the highest percentage of drivers who were distracted by cell phone use
and involved in a fatal crash. In 2013, 156 people were killed in crashes
that involved a distracted teen driver.
-
Stop Speeding Before It Stops You
- In 2013, almost one-third (29 percent) of teen drivers involved in a
fatal crash were speeding.
-
No More Than One Passenger at a Time - The risk of a fatal crash goes up with each additional passenger.
Sign up for the Secretary of State's teen driver newsletter here.
 Secretary of State Ruth Johnson in September summarily suspended
the licenses of two auto dealerships in Lansing and Mount Pleasant after customer complaints that they bought vehicles from the dealerships, but failed to
receive the vehicles’ titles or registrations. Investigators
tried to review dealership records, but were unable to
access them, grounds
for summary suspension of a dealer license.
Both are University Motor Mall vehicle dealerships at 6420 S.
Cedar St. in Lansing, and 5152 E. Pickard St. in Mount Pleasant, owned
by Patrick Joslin and James Prater. The summary suspension prohibits Joslin and
Prater from buying, selling, offering for sale or dealing in vehicles.
Johnson
late last year created the Office of Investigative Services to step up
enforcement of laws governing auto mechanics and dealerships. Thirteen have been issued
so far this year.
The
dealers are entitled to an administrative hearing to contest the suspension,
and may regain their license if they show they’ve complied with the law.
Additional administrative actions are also possible.
Consumers who have a complaint against either of the
University Motor Mall dealerships are encouraged to call the Office of
Investigative Services automotive complaint line at (517) 335-1410.
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Oct. 7-8: 9
a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at the Detroit Rescue Mission Banquet Hall, 3606 E.
Forest Ave., in Detroit.
Oct. 14-15: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at the TransLink (blue metal structure near the
Arboretum) on the GVSU campus in Allendale.
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