AAA warns of 100 deadliest days for teen drivers

MACON, Ga. — This time of summer is a dangerous season for teen drivers.

In fact, it's what AAA calls the “100 Deadliest Days for Teen Drivers.” Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the United States records the highest number of teenagers killed in car accidents

During these months of 2022, AAA said 707 teenagers were killed in these types of accidents, an increase of 10% compared to 2019, before the pandemic.

“I was really nervous,” Macon mom Julie Floyd said.

Floyd owns Macon Baking Company and she can see the cars speeding by from her store windows. But Floyd also has a 16-year-old daughter, Haley Floyd, who is learning to drive right now.

“I'm worried about her. I'm more worried about other people hitting her, and you know, that she doesn't know what to do,” Julie Floyd said.

Her daughter attends Georgia driving school and says she feels a different type of emotion.

“I'm in marching band, so I have to stay late after school to do that and after games, so I can't wait to go home,” Haley Floyd said.

Before giving her the car keys, her mother warned her about the dangers of driving.

“I'm just a little nervous about being involved in a car accident, obviously, because I know it's kind of a norm, not a normal thing, but it's a thing that happens to a lot of people. But I'm still very nervous about it,” Haley Floyd said.

His mother also shares this fear.

“Teenagers don't know what to do when things go wrong. And that's what's scary,” Julie Floyd said.

To give herself some peace of mind, she established some ground rules.

“I know people, I've seen other people texting while driving. But if it's my friend, I'll tell them 'hey, stop doing that,'” Haley Floyd said.

AAA said distraction plays a role in about 60 percent of teen crashes. That's why they tell parents to practice good rules for their kids, like putting their phones down while driving.

“I'll correct her if she does. What if someone calls her, and you know how cars have Bluetooth? If someone calls her, I'd like to hand her the phone so she doesn't hold it not,” Haley Floyd said.

His mother hopes other drivers will show grace to new arrivals on the road this summer.

“Don't put yourself above them, and you know, honk your horn and be rude. Just give them a chance. Everybody has to learn sometime,” Julie Floyd said.

AAA said the biggest distraction for teen drivers is other teens in the car. That's why they recommend parents set rules about who their child can and can't drive with.

They also said it's important to teach children how to drive in all kinds of conditions, like rain or high winds.