2018’s 100 Deadliest Days:

Crashes Involving Teen Drivers Kill 10 People a Day

Teen Driver B-Roll Video: 1 Teen Driver B-Roll Video: 2 Infographics: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

May 31, 2018 –More than 1,050 people were killed in crashes involving a teen driver in 2016 during the 100 Deadliest Days, the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day. That is an average of 10 people per day – a 14 percent increase compared to the rest of the year, according to data analyzed by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. In Oklahoma, 3,486 crashes involving drivers ages 16 to 19 occurred during the summer of 2016. Eight teen drivers died and, in all, 20 people were killed.

With school out for summer, AAA urges teen drivers to focus first on safety to avoid tragedy.

“The number of fatal crashes involving teen drivers during the summer shows that young drivers are at greater risk and have higher crash rates compared to older and more experienced drivers,” said Dr. David Yang, AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety executive director. “Through education, proper training and involvement of parents, we can help our young drivers to become better and safer drivers, which in turn keeps the roads safer for everyone.”

Speed and nighttime driving are significant factors contributing towards the number of crashes, and subsequently fatalities, involving teen drivers during the 100 Deadliest Days (statistics based on 2016 NHTSA FARS data as analyzed by the AAA Foundation):

Speeding

• 1 in 10 of all motor vehicle speed-related fatalities involved a teen driver

   

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

Nighttime Driving

• 36 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities involving teen drivers occurred between 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.

   

• 1 in 10 of all motor vehicle nighttime crash fatalities involved a teen driver

   

• Data show 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

“Parents, get actively involved in your teen’s learning-to-drive years. Driving and traffic safety are not intuitive,” said Leslie Gamble, AAA Oklahoma spokesperson. “Setting boundaries for their safety and following through if they don’t comply is as important as teaching them to look before crossing the road was when they were younger.”

In preparation for the dangerous summer driving period, AAA encourages parents to educate their teens and themselves about risky driving behavior:

• Discuss frequently and monitor risky driving situations:

   

  -speeding -nighttime driving

   

  -visiting with passengers -phone use while driving

   

  -driving after drinking alcohol -not wearing seatbelts

   

   

   

• Teach by example and minimize your own risky behavior when behind the wheel.

   

   

   

• Make a parent-teen driving agreement that sets family rules for teen drivers. Consider setting driving limits that are stronger than a state’s law, and enforce those limits.

TeenDriving.AAA.comhas a variety of tools, including licensing and state law information, to help prepare parents and teens for not only the dangerous summer driving season, but also all year long. The site also features new interactive widgets highlighting teen driving risks, as well as a social host quiz. The online AAAStartSmartprogram also offers great resources for parents on how to become effective in-car coaches as well as advice on how to manage their teen’s overall driving privileges.

Strengthening teen driving laws to increase roadway safety is a top priority for AAA. The Association’s advocacy efforts are helping to protect teens by working to pass graduated driver licensing laws, including seat belt requirements, wireless device bans and nighttime driving and passenger restrictions, in states across the country

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AAA provides automotive, travel, and insurance services to 58million members nationwide and more than 400,000 members in Oklahoma.AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years. AAA is a non-stock, non-profit corporation working on behalf of motorists, who can now map a route, find local gas prices, discover discounts, book a hotel, and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app (AAA.com/mobile) for iPhone, iPad and Android.For more information, visitwww.AAA.com.

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