AAA offers safe-driving tips for young drivers
The most dangerous time of year for inexperienced drivers is from Memorial Day to Labor Day, AAA warns.
More than 1,050 people were killed in crashes involving a teen driver in 2016 during the 100 Deadliest Days — the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
That is an average of 10 people per day — a 14 percent increase compared to the rest of the year, according to data analyzed by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. As school lets out for summer, AAA is stressing the importance of preparing and educating inexperienced teen drivers for some of the most dangerous driving days of the year.
In the past 10 years (2008 – 2017), Pennsylvania has recorded 69,318 crashes involving drivers ages 16-17. Teen driver crashes (ages 16-17) have been on the rise since 2014, up 16.7 percent from a 2014 low.
The following is a break-down by county of crashes involving a 16-17 year-old driver in 2016 and 2017:
2016
Bucks: 410 Chester: 356 Delaware: 218 Montgomery: 407 Philadelphia: 155 Total in Pennsylvania: 6,671
2017
Bucks: 432 Chester: 365 Delaware: 197 Montgomery: 499 Philadelphia: 138 Total in Pennsylvania: 6,727
“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. “Through education, proper training, and involvement of parents, we can help our young drivers to become better and safer drivers, which in turn keeps the roads safer for everyone.”
Speed and nighttime driving are significant factors contributing towards the number of crashes, and subsequently fatalities, involving teen drivers during the 100 Deadliest Days (statistics based on 2016 NHTSA FARS data as analyzed by the AAA Foundation): vehicle fatalities involving teen drivers occurred between 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.
• 1 in 10 of all motor vehicle nighttime crash fatalities involved a teen driver
• Data show a 22 percent increase in the average number of nighttime crashes per day involving teen drivers during the 100 Deadliest Days compared to the rest of the year
Speeding
• 1 in 10 of all motor vehicle speed-related fatalities involved a teen driver
• 29 percent of all motor vehicle deaths involving a teen driver were speed-related
“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. “This is a timely reminder for parents to be actively involved in their teen’s learning-to-drive process, understanding the risks and to be educated on their state’s teen driving law.”
In preparation for the dangerous summer driving period, AAA is encouraging parents to educate their teens and themselves about risky driving behavior. AAA suggests parents should:
• Discuss with teens early and often the dangers of risky driving situations, such as speeding and nighttime driving.
• Teach by example and minimize your own risky behavior when behind the wheel.
• Make a parent-teen driving agreement that sets family rules for teen drivers. Consider setting driving limits that are stronger than a state’s law, and enforce those limits.
TeenDriving.A A A.com has a variety of tools, including licensing and state law information, to help prepare parents and teens for not only the dangerous summer driving season, but also all year long. The site also features new interactive widgets highlighting teen driving risks, as well as a social host quiz. The online AAA StartSmart program also offers great resources for parents on how to become effective in-car coaches as well as advice on how to manage their teen’s overall driving privileges.