As schools let out for summer, AAA is now warning parents to make sure your teens stay safe while they're driving.
The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is the "100 Deadliest Days," according to AAA. In 2016, more than 1,050 people died in crashes involving teen drivers between the two holidays. That's 14% more traffic deaths than the rest of the year. A part of the problem, AAA says, is lack of experience.
“The number of fatal crashes involving teen drivers during the summer is an important traffic safety concern and research shows that young drivers are at greater risk and have higher crash rates compared to older and more experienced drivers,” said Dr. David Yang, AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety executive director.
So the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is taking this time to help educate parents. Speed and nighttime driving are two of the biggest contributors to crashes involving teen drivers during the 100 Deadliest Days. in 2016, 36% of all motor vehicle deaths involving teen drivers happened between 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. One tenth of all deadly nighttime crashes involved teens drivers. During the 100 Deadliest Days, the average number of nighttime crashes was 22% higher than the rest of the year.
“Not only are risks, like nighttime driving, a particular danger to young drivers, nearly every state also has a law restricting how late teens may be out on the roads,” said Richard Romer, AAA Manager of State Relations.
The foundation also says 29% of all motor vehicle deaths involving teen drivers were speed-related.
AAA recommends you do the following to make sure your teens are safe on the road this summer:
- Discuss risky driving behaviors like speeding and nighttime driving.
- Teach your kids good driving by setting a safe example when you're driving.
- And set a driving agreement with your teen with stronger rules than state laws, then enforce those limits.
