National Teen Driver Safety Week was 10/17/10 to 10/23/10. Throughout the campaign, experts focused on warning young drivers of the responsibilities that come with the freedom of a driver's license, emphasizing that mistakes behind the wheel can lead to deadly auto accidents.

Kristi Wagers of the Richmond County Ninth Grade Academy said mobile phones are among the most prevalent dangers for the students she teaches. Ms. Wagers emphasizes an approach, which is consistent with the recent N.C. law that made texting while driving illegal. (see 10/03/10 Blog Post re: North Carolina Auto Accidents On The Rise Due To Texting) "Teenagers need to realize the importance of leaving their cell phones off when they are driving. We stress this frequently in our driver's education program," she said. "If the phone is off, you don't have to worry about who may be calling or texting."

Govener Beverly Perdue recently noted story of Amos Johnson, whose daughter Ashley perished in a May car accident while retrieving a text message on her mobile phone. The Johnson's story is accessible at North Carolina Department of Transportation's YouTube page. Since his daughter's death, Mr. Johnson has emphasized Ashley's story to encourage young drivers pay attention to the road. Mr. Johnson wants teenagers to learn from her mistake.