I received a press release from AAA this morning that shared some very disturbing facts around teen drivers and the "Deadliest 100 Days". I felt compelled to share this information as I have teen drivers and I am sure many people in our audience do as well.
My son was one of the first on the
scene of a pretty bad crash (see picture) last September that involved some of his classmates. No one died, but one of the young men will be recovering for a very long time. I encourage you to share these stats and this information with anyone you know who has teen drivers so that we can make this the "Safest 100 Days" for teen drivers.
According to AAA, the period from Memorial Day to Labor Day is the "100 Deadliest Days" for teen drivers.
- New teen drivers (ages 16-17) are 3 times more likely to be involved in a deadly crash compared to adults
Between 2011 and 2020:
- An average of 2,063 teens die in fatal car crashes per year
- More than 7,124 people died in teen related summertime crashes
We can't wrap them in bubble wrap and we aren't taking the keys away, so AAA suggests:
- Talk with your your driver early and often about the perils of speeding, distracted and impaired driving
- Set a good example
- Have an parent -teen driver agreement and stick to it
- Teach, or have them taught, defensive driving
The auto club also recommends in person and online driver training as well as parent supervised training as a method to protect your teen and your family from the "100 Deadliest Days". You can find more resources on their website.
Wishing and praying for a safe summer for you and your families.