Transportation leaders are urging families to take extra caution on our nation's roads over the coming months. The time between Memorial Day and Labor Day is known as the 100 deadliest on our roadways since the number of daily crashes involving teen drivers typically rises. Traffic safety managers with AAA attribute the deaths to students being out of school, driving more often over the summer, and taking fewer drives with a focused destination. There's also the reality that more teens tend to be in the car together and there is more nighttime driving.
Auto crashes are the leading cause of death of young people between the ages of 16-19. According to the AAA, nearly 6,700 people were killed in crashes involving a teen driver between Memorial Day and Labor Day from 2013-2022. Last year in Florida, teens were involved in 20,000 crashes in the Sunshine State over these 100 days. For every mile driven, new teen drivers are 3 times more likely to be involved in a deadly crash compared to adults.
Distracted driving plays a role in nearly 6 of 10 crashes. Having other teen passengers in the car is the largest risk factor, followed by electronics like cell phones as the second biggest distraction.
Research shows that having other teens in the car can contribute to peer pressure and dangerous driving habits like speeding and aggressive driving. Speeding is also a factor in nearly 30% of deadly crashes involving teens - so is not wearing a seatbelt. Teen drivers may also revert to bad habits like not signaling, not coming to complete stops, not checking blind spots, and not keeping a safe distance from other vehicles.
Law enforcement leaders remind parents of teen drivers to set guidelines before handing over the car keys. Talk about safe driving and how it can affect their life as well as the lives of others. Parent should lead by example, teach defensive driving skills, and set rules for when teens can drive and who they can go with. Additional discussion must involve driving alcohol- and drug-free and limiting the number of passengers allowed in the car.
AAA offers an online course called
How to Drive that can help prepare teens
How to Drive that can help prepare teens
with rules & essential elements of safe driving
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