Currently, America is right in the middle of the “100 Deadliest Days.” This harrowing name is given to the weeks between the Memorial Day and Labor Day holidays when traffic fatalities spike country-wide.
Experts attribute these dangerous road conditions to an influx of tourists and teenagers out of school. Amid the current pandemic, unemployment is also high, creating a deadly combination. Teens are among the highest demographics at risk during the 100 Deadliest Days, so what can parents do to help keep their kids safe?
Teenagers are at a greater risk
The American Automobile Association (AAA) recently published ten years’ worth of study on the 100 Deadliest Days. Since 2008, over 8,300 people have lost their lives in a car accident involving a teen driver. AAA says that two-thirds of people injured or killed in a car crash with a teen driver are people other than the teenager.
Jennifer Ryan, Director of State Relations for AAA, says, “Parents remain the best line of defense to keep everyone safe behind the wheel.” When polled, 70% of teen drivers admit to the following dangerous behavior:
- Speeding in residential areas
- Speeding on highways
- Texting and driving
- Driving while drowsy
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Driving without a seatbelt
- Driving aggressively
Educate teens on proper road safety
AAA officials claim that teens do not have the driving experience to recognize and curb these risky behaviors. Parents must step in and provide information and set an example for teens. Ryan recommends that parents:
- speak with teens about how to avoid risky driving behaviors;
- set the example by practicing safe driving;
- draft a parent/child agreement to accurately set safety expectations;
- and supervise 50 hours of teen driving
Consult with a lawyer for more information
Those involved in a car accident can reach out to a local lawyer for counsel. An attorney familiar with motor vehicle accident law in New England can help assess one’s case, navigate dense health insurance paperwork and draw up settlement papers.