Knowing the risks of summer driving for teens may help you save a life.
The days between Memorial and Labor Day each year are called the “100 Deadliest Days” for teen drivers. According to the National Safety Council, approximately 1,000 people were killed in collisions involving teens during the deadly days of summer 2012.
For a number of reasons, car accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers. Some factors that contribute to summertime driving accidents include:
- Time: With school out, new drivers have more time to spend with friends. Increased leisure time leads to more hours driving longer distances.
- Time of day: During the summer, teens are more often driving later at night. Drowsy driving and unfamiliarity with night driving contribute to tragic car accidents.
- Distraction: The presence of one or more teens in a car with a teen driver dramatically increases the possibility of a serious accident. Loud, noisy passengers increase the risk of driver involvement in a serious incident by a factor of six.
If your child is a teen, or you have a friend who is a teen, consider the following tips from the National Safety Council:
- Stay involved with new drivers. Spend some time each week driving with teens who have recently received a new license.
- Prohibit or limit teen passengers in cars driven by other teens.
- Ensure teens are home by 10:00 PM. A curfew decreases the chance of drowsy driving and other nighttime accidents.
- Always enforce seatbelt use and prohibit impaired driving.
With time and experience, teen drivers mature into responsible, skilled motorists. Make sure they get that chance by helping new drivers stay safe this summer. When you have questions about accidents involving negligent drivers in Bradenton, speak with a skilled personal injury attorney.