School is almost out for the summer, which means teenage drivers will have a lot more time to spend behind the wheel. May is National Traffic Safety Month and many organizations, safety advocates and teenage groups are placing added emphasis on the importance of safe driving practices for young drivers this summer.

"These tragic crashes and statistics are preventable and it is time we all work together to put an end to summer breaks that end in loss and pain for families of young drivers. The National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) Coalition leads this annual campaign with national youth organizations, federal and state leaders and business and industry partners," said Sandy Spavone, the executive director of NOYS. "Together these groups supporting and promoting youth efforts will save lives and prevent injuries."

NYOS and its partners will focus the campaign on raising awareness about the dangers of driving while impaired, not wearing seat belts and distractions behind the wheel. Everything from talking to passengers and playing with the radio to texting and eating can increase the risk of an accident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports reading a text takes about 4.6 seconds, and when a car is traveling about 55 miles per hour, the driver's eyes will leave the road for about 100 yards, or the length of a football field.

Many new and pre-owned cars are loaded with safety features designed to reduce the risk of accidents, such as blind spot warnings and lane assist. There are also smartphone apps that can detect when a car is moving and stop incoming calls and texts from distracting the driver.

Parents who are searching for used cars in NJ for their teen driver can check out New Jersey State Auto Auction. This car dealer carries a wide selection of makes and models so parents are sure to find a safe, reliable ride for the new driver in their family.