NEW YORK – The most dangerous time for teenage drivers begins with Memorial Day, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).
The AAA noted that from Monday Memorial Day to Labor Day, a total of 100 days, is the season where the most fatal accidents are reported on the roads, most of which involve teenage drivers.
Data compiled by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows that more than 7,000 teens lost their lives in crashes involving a teen driver from 2010 to 2019. That averages seven deaths per day during the summer, compared to six per day. the rest of the year.
“Teen drivers, especially those ages 16 and 17, lack the skills and experience to be safe drivers,” said Robert Sinclair, Jr., senior manager of public affairs for AAA Northeast. “During the summer, teens don’t go to school and have a lot of free time and hit the road,” Sinclair added.
Teens also engage in extremely dangerous behavior behind the wheel, dramatically increasing the risk of crashes. In a 2020 survey of teen drivers by AAA, 47 percent admitted driving more than 10 miles per hour over the speed limit in residential areas, 40 percent drove more than 15 miles per hour over the speed limit. speed on the highway.
A shocking 35 percent texted while driving, 32 percent ran a red light, 31 percent drove aggressively, 25 percent drove drowsy, and 17 percent did not wear a seatbelt. Data shows that 16- and 17-year-old drivers are three times more likely to be in a fatal accident than an adult driver.
From 2010 to 2019 in New York State, 473 teen drivers were killed in crashes, 176, or 37 percent, during the summer months, which is 25 percent of the year. During the same period, New Jersey saw 281 teen driver deaths, 81 or 28 percent, during the summer. Connecticut had 130 total teen deaths, 51, the equivalent of 36 percent, during the summer.
To avoid accidents, AAA urges parents to model good driving behavior for their children from infancy. Parents should spend at least 100 hours practicing driving with their children.
AAA can help with a new tool called “training your new driver.” For information you can visit this website.
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