Teen Drivers at Greatest Risk During 100 Deadliest Days of Summer
AAA has a term for the timeframe between Memorial Day and Labor Day: 100 Deadliest Days.
This period represents several weeks when all drivers, but especially teen drivers, are at greater risk of being fatally injured in a car accident. According to AAA, the chances of a teen driver dying in a car crash rises by 17 percent during the 100 Deadliest Days. However, many of the 700 annual victims who are hurt or killed in teen driver-related crashes are someone other than the teens themselves.
The best way to address this sober situation is with education, beginning with the top reasons for teen driver highway accidents.
Common Causes of Teen Driver Crashes
Teens who get behind the wheel typically have very little experience navigating roads. Therefore, they can make several key mistakes. The first is driving while distracted, which leads to at least nine percent of highway fatalities. Texting and speaking on the phone are huge distractions for all drivers, and teens are especially prone to be distracted by conversations with other people in the vehicle.
A second leading cause of teen driver fatal accidents during the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer is driving while under the influence. Despite the fact that it against the law for teens to drink alcohol, teens may decide to operate cars while intoxicated. Similarly, they may be under the influence of other substances, such as street or even over-the-counter drugs.
A final reason for teen driving crashes over the summer is speeding behavior. AAA notes that speeding played a role in 28 percent of deadly collisions during the Deadliest Days period. Whether speeding in residential neighborhoods or on major roadways, teens put themselves and others in harm’s way.
Starting the Discussion About the 100 Deadliest Days
The most straightforward way for teens to get the message that their lives are on the line when they drive is for parents to repeatedly talk about and model good driving behavior. Parents who themselves frequently text while driving, disobey the speed limit, drive while intoxicated, or drive recklessly or aggressively should reconsider the message they send to their family’s young and emerging drivers.
Parents and guardians may even want to write up family guidelines regarding the use of vehicles. These could include always putting cell phones in the car glove compartment and monitoring speed limits. Having these rules in place help parents keep the conversation going rather than allowing their teen children to become accustomed to dangerous driving habits.
Highland Park Car Accident Lawyers at the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr Promote Safer Teen Driving to Reduce Accident Injuries
If your teen is involved in a New Jersey crash that was not their fault, or someone you care about was seriously injured in a teen driving accident, please contact a Highland Park car accident lawyer to discuss your legal options. The compassionate attorneys at the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr can be reached at 732-537-8570 or 877-249-4600 or through our online contact form. Our office is located in Highland Park, New Jersey, and serves clients in New Brunswick, Somerset, Piscataway, Edison, South River, Sayreville, Metuchen, East Brunswick, South Plainfield, Fords, Middlesex, Old Bridge, Iselin, Bound Brook, Perth Amboy, and Colonia.
