Kansas Teen Drivers Urged to Be Safe on the Road

School is out and Kansas has entered a period known as the “Deadliest 100 Days” on the road. AAA Kansas says the days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are when the number of deaths in crashes involving teen drivers has increased.

Shawn Steward, director of public and government affairs for AAA Kansas, said in a press release that “traffic accidents remain a leading cause of death among U.S. teens ages 16 to 19.” in the summer, but lack the experience and skills of older drivers. These factors can often have deadly consequences on the road. »

Nationally, 6,697 people died in summer crashes involving teen drivers between 2013 and 2022. This represents nearly half of the total number of people killed in crashes involving teens for the rest of the year. And in 2022 alone, 707 people were killed in these types of accidents, an increase of 10% compared to 2019, before the pandemic.

In Kansas, 99 people were killed in crashes involving teens ages 15 to 18 during the 100 deadliest days from 2013 to 2022. This represents 33% of all teen crash deaths during this period of ten years.

AAA Kansas encourages teen drivers to work harder to stay focused while driving, buckle up for every trip, and drive within the posted speed limits. Parents should also talk specifically to their teens about the dangers of drunk driving.