100 Deadliest Days for Teen Drivers

With summer approaching, we wanted to make parents aware of the 100 deadliest days for teens on the road. According to AAA, from Memorial Day to Labor Day it is estimated that nearly 1,000 people are killed in crashes involving teen drivers and, of those killed, 550 are teens.

Additionally, car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens age 15-20 in the U.S.  Teens crash at three times the rate of more experienced drivers.

Experts believe the following contribute to the 100 deadliest days:

• Summer driving tends to be more recreational and not as purposeful, such as driving to see friends rather than driving to school or work.
• Teens could be carrying friends more frequently and passengers increase the risk of a fatal crash involving a teen driver by at least 44 percent.
• Teens may stay out later at night, when crash risk is higher.
• With warmer weather and clearer conditions, teens may be tempted to speed.
• More drivers are on the roads. Americans drove more than 780 billion miles between June, July and August in 2013, according to the Federal Highway Administration.

Studies have shown that parental engagement improves the odds for young drivers over the next 100 days. In an effort to help parents and teen drivers work together, the National Safety Council has launched a program called DriveitHOME.  This campaign was created by parents for parents and features an interactive website with videos, information resources, and infographics to help parents understand the increased risk for teens driving during the summer months.  The site also features a parent forum, a parent/teen driving agreement, and a digital driving coach that offers helpful tips for ongoing practice.

We encourage parents to utilize the resources available on the DriveItHome website and lead by example.

• Practice with them- Sit beside them while they drive, before and after they get their license to check on their progress.
• Set a good example- Drive the way you want them to drive. Your teens will mimic your good behaviors and your bad behaviors.
• Sign a parent-teen agreement- This sets guidelines and expectations for you and your teen.
• Let teens earn their privileges- Earning privileges helps teens understand the value of responsibility.
• Talk to other parents- Let others know your rules so they can be enforced even if you’re not around.

Casey, Devoti & Brockland is a St. Louis-based law firm focused exclusively on personal injury litigation.  Since 1983, our attorneys have helped injured people navigate the road to recovery by securing compensation for pain and suffering, medical expenses and lost wages. Together Partners Matt Casey, Matt Devoti and Anne Brockland have nearly 50 years of trial experience handling the following personal injury matters: car, truck and train crashes, victims of impaired and distracted driving, medical malpractice, birth injuries, product liability, premises liability, elder and sexual abuse, Workers’ Compensation and wrongful death.  We proudly serve clients throughout metropolitan St. Louis, southeastern Missouri and southern Illinois.

Our highly accessible attorneys deliver the perfect balance of aggressive legal representation, compassion and personal service. If you or a loved one have been injured by the negligence of another, call the office today for a free, no-obligation consultation: (314) 421-0763.