Summer A Deadly Time for Teen Drivers
Did you know that the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are the most deadly for teen drivers?
According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data analyzed by the nonprofit National Safety Council (http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2014/images/05/23/national-safety-council.pdf), in 2012, from Memorial Day through Labor Day, approximately 1,000 people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers, and more than 550 of those killed were teens. The AAA Foundation found that over the past five years, nearly 4,000 teen drivers and passengers were killed nationwide between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
In addition to driver inexperience, teens are driving distracted (texting while driving, talking on the phone, etc.) behind the wheel and are more willing to engage in risky behaviors behind the wheel. A teen’s risk of a crash that causes serious injury or death also increases when passengers are added.
AAA reports that the potential for a teen driver to be involved in a fatal wreck increases by 44 percent when carrying another passenger younger than 21, doubles with two passengers under the age of 21 and quadruples with three or more similar passengers in the vehicle.
Parents are a powerful influence on their children and the type of driver they will become. As parents we must set an example by following safe driving habits. Keep a close eye on your children – set rules and monitor them.
Here we have some helpful resources for parents and teens:
- Distracted Driving Brochure
- Distracted Driving Video
- AAA Foundation’s KEYS2DRIVE
- US Department of Transportation’s Distraction.gov
