During the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer, teen drivers are three times more likely to be in fatal crashes than adults. Sixteen and 17-year-old teens are at the highest risk. These teens are involved in wrecks that kill more than 1,000 people during this time block, which begins on Memorial Day and runs through Labor Day. This year, the 100 Deadliest Days started on May 28, 2018.
Students are out of school for the summer and on the road more than during the school year. This fact, coupled with their inexperience behind the wheel, puts young teen drivers at precarious risk.
The Top Three Distractions for Young Teen Drivers
AAA says that the three most common distractions teens experience just before crashes during the 100 Deadliest Days include:
- Conversations and interactions with their passengers (15 percent of wrecks)
- Using a cell phone to talk, text, or perform other functions (12 percent)
- Looking at or using something inside the car (11 percent)
Recommendations for Parents
AAA urges parents to talk with their teen drivers about safety before and throughout the summer driving season, and to take these steps:
1.) Make sure your kids understand how dangerous distracted driving is to the teens and everyone around them.
2.) Set a good example for your teen drivers by not using your cell phone or engaging in other distracting behaviors when behind the wheel.
3.) Set family driving rules about distracted driving and put them in writing, in the form of a contract that both the parent and teen drivers sign.
4.) Always wear your seatbelt and insist that your kids wear theirs every single time they drive or ride in a car. Over half of the teens who lost their lives while driving in the summer months were not wearing seatbelts.
Alcohol and the 100 Deadliest Days
Teens are more likely to drink alcohol during the summer months when out having fun with their friends. Set zero-tolerance family rules about drinking and driving and set the example for your children. Make sure your kids know that if they drink alcohol or use drugs while out, they can always call or text you for a safe ride home, without fear of punishment.
The founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) pleads that you empower your teens to say no to a ride with a friend who has been drinking or using drugs and to turn down rides with friends who engage in dangerous driving behaviors like texting and talking on the phone. She encourages parents to have these conversations ahead of time so their children will know what to do in the situation.
At the Law Office of Jason R. Schultz, PC, we sincerely hope that these tips will help you and your family escape harm on the road this summer. Sometimes, however, accidents happen no matter how careful we are. If you or a loved one suffers an injury in a crash, please call us at 404-474-0804 to get your complimentary consultation.
