CDOT targets teen drivers with “Keep Your License Safe” campaign

Campaign materials and videos available here

This month CDOT launched a public awareness campaign to help educate new teen drivers about safety laws that specifically apply to them, known as Colorado’s Graduated Drivers Licensing (GDL) laws. CDOT’s new “Keep Your License Safe” campaign is a humorous and engaging social media effort that targets teens with information about laws that apply to them: no cell phones, no passengers under 21, and always wear a seat belt.

GDL laws were designed to keep drivers under the age of 18 safe by giving them driving experience without distractions, and by limiting dangerous driving situations. Over the past 20 years, GDL has contributed to a near 50% reduction in traffic fatalities involving young drivers. Continued education about GDL laws and enforcement of the restrictions are important for maintaining positive results.

CDOT’s “Keep Your License Safe” campaign focuses on three key GDL laws through a series of short videos using a “peer-to-peer” messaging model. Each video highlights a different GDL law, with one teen playing all the roles.

“From talking with teens, we know how important peer-to-peer conversations can be. It’s how many teens get their news and information,” explains Darrell Lingk, CDOT Director of the Office of Transportation Safety. “This campaign puts a fun spin on peer delivery, giving them an opportunity to learn about safe driving from each other.”

Parent involvement in GDL is critical to its success in keeping teen drivers safe. Teens who say their parents set rules and pay attention to their activities in a helpful, supportive way are half as likely to crash. A simple and effective way for parents to open the lines of communication about safe driving practices is with a Teen/Parent Driving Contract. A contract allows parents and teens to work together to establish driving rules and consequences. Parents can download a sample driving contract.

“Getting a driver’s license can be an exciting time for new drivers, and it also comes with a lot of responsibility,” adds Lingk. “The more teens and their parents know about the licensing process and teen driving laws in Colorado, the better prepared everyone will be.”

The “Keep Your License Safe” campaign will appear in September on popular social media platforms including Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram. Campaign videos can be found here.

• Teen Law #1 - No texting 
• Teen Law #2 - No passengers
• Teen Law #3 - Buckle up

Key figures:

• 2005 – 2016: Colorado averaged 64 young drivers involved in fatal crashes per year.
• 2017 - 2019: Colorado averaged 82 young drivers involved in fatal crashes per year, an increase of 28%.

Know the Facts: 

• The first year of driving is the most dangerous.
• GDL law has contributed to a near 50% reduction in traffic fatalities involving young drivers over the last 20 years.
• Crashes are preventable. Teens who say their parents set rules and pay attention to their activities in a helpful, supportive way are half as likely to crash.
• For additional resources, please visit www.COteendriver.com

CDOT seat belt safety efforts are part of CDOT’s Whole System – Whole Safety campaign which aims to reduce fatalities and injuries and “Bring everyone home safely