Editorial: Summer months are high risk for inexperienced teen drivers | Notice

The following editorial is from the Meadville Tribune:

As the school year ends in Crawford County, it's worth noting an increase in the number of teen drivers who will soon be hitting the road.

It is important to prepare and educate inexperienced teen drivers for the most dangerous driving days ahead.

Nationally, more than 7,000 people died in summer teen driving crashes between 2011 and 2020. That's more than seven people per day during what AAA calls the “100 Days deadliest” – the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day – compared to the rest. of the year.

“Without the responsibilities of school during the summer months, teens will spend more time on the road, often driving with friends at odd hours of the day and night. Young drivers don’t have as much experience behind the wheel, so they often engage in dangerous behaviors like speeding and distracted driving,” said Theresa Podguski, director of legislative affairs, AAA East Central.

According to a previous study by the AAA Foundation for Highway Safety, new teen drivers ages 16 to 17 are three times more likely than adults to be involved in a fatal crash. Speeding and driving at night are significant factors contributing to the number of crashes and deaths involving teen drivers during the 100 deadliest days.

According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

• 36 percent of all motor vehicle deaths involving teen drivers occurred between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.

• Data shows 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.

• 30 percent of all motor vehicle deaths involving a teen driver were speed-related.

In anticipation of the dangerous summer driving season, AAA encourages parents to educate their teens and themselves about risky driving behaviors. Parents should:

• Talk early and often with teens about the dangers of risky driving situations, such as speeding and driving at night.

• Discuss with teens the dangers and consequences of distracted driving (i.e., texting, having multiple people in the car, etc.).

• Emphasize the importance of buckling up. More than 50% of teen drivers who died in 2020 were not wearing seat belts.

Although summer may be a worry for the parent or guardian of a teen driver, this time of year is also a great time for teens to take a comprehensive driver education course to learn the rules of the road.

Practicing safe driving on the road can help a teen avoid becoming a statistic.