We’re now in what AAA calls the “100 Deadliest Days,” when teen crash deaths historically climb.
Over the past five years, more than 5,000 people have been killed in crashes involving teen drivers during the “100 Deadliest Days,” the period beginning Memorial Day and running through summer.
AAA attributes the rise to simple math- teens spend more time on the roads during the summer months. The average number of deaths from crashes involving drivers ages 16-19 increased by 16 percent per day compared to other days of the year.
Another problem…distractions. AAA say over half of teen crashes involve distractions behind the wheel, including texting and social media use.
Other distractions include:
- Talking to other passengers
- And attending to or looking at something inside the vehicle
According to an eight-year research project conducted by the AAA Foundation, talking or attending to other passengers in the vehicle accounted for 15 percent of crashes, which is more than talking, texting or operating a cell phone, which accounted for 12 percent of crashes. The study, which used dash-cam crash videos of teen drivers, is considered the most comprehensive project ever conducted to date.
AAA is urging parents to talk to their teen about the dangers of distracting driving and monitor their actions behind the wheel. Parents should also teach by example and minimize their own distractions when driving, especially when their teen is in the car watching them.
Officials say every day during the summer driving season, an average of 10 people die as a result of injuries from a crash involving a teen driver.
Photo by Michael C. Rael
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