AAA Reveals Key Deadly Behaviors for Teen Drivers

Over the past five years, nearly 3,500 people have been killed in crashes involving teen drivers during the 100 Deadliest Days, the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day, when the number of crash fatalities involving a teen driver historically rise.

New crash data from 2013-2017 reveals major factors contributing to fatal teen crashes during the summer driving period include:

• Speeding (28 percent)
• Drinking and driving (17 percent)
• Distraction (9 percent)

According to Dr. David Yang, Executive Director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety,  “crash data shows that teens are a vulnerable driver group with a higher probability of being involved in crashes. And while teens may make mistakes when first learning to drive, it is important to continue educating them about safety behind the wheel so they avoid the reckless behaviors that put themselves and others at risk on the road.”

AAA Foundation research found that nearly two-thirds of people injured or killed in a crash involving a teen driver are people other than the teen behind the wheel. Crashes for teen drivers increase significantly during the summer because teens are out of school and driving more. Over the past five years during the “100 Deadliest Days”:

• An average of almost 700 people died each year in crashes involving teen drivers. The average number of deaths from crashes involving teen drivers ages 15-18 was 17 percent higher per day compared to other days of the year.

Reckless behavior like drinking and driving, speeding and distraction are contributing to the alarming number of crash deaths involving teen drivers each summer.

To keep roads safer this summer, AAA along with local law enforcememnt encourages parents to:

• Talk with teens early and often about abstaining from dangerous behavior behind the wheel, such as speeding, impairment and distracted driving.
• Teach by example and minimize risky behavior when driving.
• Make a parent-teen driving agreement that sets family rules for teen drivers.

Teens preparing for the responsibility of driving should enroll in a driver education program that teaches how to avoid driver distraction and other safety skills.