As summer approaches, so do heightened roadway risks for teenage drivers. The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day, known as the "100 Deadliest Days," historically sees a rise in crash fatalities involving teen drivers.
"Traffic crashes remain one of the leading causes of death for U.S. teens between the ages of 16 and 19," said Ragina Cooper Ali, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA in Maryland and Washington, D.C. "Teens often have a lot of unstructured time in the summer but don't have the experience and skills of older drivers. Those factors can often lead to deadly consequences on the road."
From 2013 to 2022, 6,697 people died in teen driver-related crashes during the summer, nearly half of the total fatalities involving teen drivers for the entire rest of the year. In 2022 alone, there were 707 fatalities in such crashes, marking a 10% increase from pre-pandemic 2019.
Local Impact
In Maryland, 97 people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers aged 15 to 18 during the 100 Deadliest Days from 2013 to 2022, accounting for 41% of all vehicle crash fatalities during that decade. Virginia saw 151 fatalities in the same period, representing one-third of all vehicle crash deaths. The District of Columbia reported two fatalities, accounting for over 28% of all vehicle crash fatalities.
AAA Mid-Atlantic urges teen drivers to focus on safe driving practices, such as staying attentive, buckling up, and adhering to speed limits. Parents are encouraged to discuss the dangers of impaired driving with their teens.
Alarming Statistics
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2022:
- 22% of 15 to 18-year-old drivers involved in fatal crashes had been drinking.
- 50% of teen drivers who died were not wearing seatbelts.
- 30% of all motor vehicle deaths involving a teen driver were speed-related.
The AAA Foundation's 2021 Traffic Safety Culture Index revealed that many teen drivers admitted to risky behaviors in the past 30 days:
- 39% drove 10 mph over the speed limit on residential streets.
- 34% drove 15 mph over the speed limit on freeways.
- 28% texted while driving.
- 27% ran red lights.
- 25% drove aggressively.
- 16% drove while drowsy.
- 12% drove without a seatbelt.
- 4% drank enough alcohol to be over the legal limit for adults.
- 8% rode in a car with a driver who had consumed too much alcohol.
- 6% drove within an hour of using marijuana.
"Parents remain the best line of defense to keep everyone safe behind the wheel," said Michael Belcuore, Manager for Driver Education for AAA Club Alliance. "It's never too soon for parents to talk to their kids about the dangers of distracted driving, speeding, and alcohol and marijuana impairment. But, and this is an important but, they also need to model good driving behavior themselves."
Parental Guidance and Resources
AAA advises parents to:
- Engage in early and frequent discussions with teens about safe driving behaviors.
- Lead by example by avoiding risky driving practices.
- Establish a parent-teen driving agreement to set family rules for teen drivers.
- Supervise at least 60 hours of practice driving with their teen, including 10 hours at night.
- Choose driving schools with up-to-date curriculums that cover advanced vehicle technology, the effects of cannabis on driving, Move Over laws, and sharing the road with vulnerable users. Some schools offer parent-specific sessions to assist in the process.
AAA offers a free guide, "Coaching Your New Driver – An In-Car Guide for Parents," to help parents coach their teens on safe driving. The guide includes a driving log and lesson plans for behind-the-wheel practice.
The AAA Teen Driver Website provides various tools to prepare parents and teens for the summer driving season. The online AAA StartSmart Parent Session offers resources for parents on how to be effective in-car coaches and manage their teen's driving privileges.
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