GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – It’s being called the “100 Deadliest Days.”
The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day, coincidentally when school is out of session, is when a AAA study has detected an increase in fatal teen crashes.
The organization says over the past five years, nearly 3,500 people have been killed in crashes involving teen drivers during that 100 day period.
Some of the major factors contributing to those crashes are probably not that surprising.
According to crash data, the three main contributors are speeding, drinking and driving, and general distraction.
“Parents have plenty to be concerned about as their teen hits the road this summer,” says Nick Jarmusz, Midwest Director of Public Affairs for AAA. “Teens are making deadly mistakes on the road.”
According to him, a big reason behind that is simply their age.
“They are already at a disadvantage just because of their inexperience behind the wheel,” says Jarmusz.
Another factor is that teens are out on roads in increased numbers during the summer and often times driving around in areas they are unfamiliar with.
“They are driving recreationally,” he explains. “Sometimes driving just for the sake of driving, to get out of the house and enjoy that freedom.”
Experts say that parents have a great opportunity to help curtail dangerous teen driving habits.
First, AAA encourages parents to talk with teens early and often about abstaining from dangerous behavior behind the wheel.
Additionally, parents have an opportunity to teach by example and minimize risky behavior when driving.
Jarmusz says it might be a good idea to develop a parent-teen driving agreement.
“So it helps them kind of overcome some of those peer pressures that might otherwise lead them to take risks which are dangerous to them,” he explains.
Specifically, it gives teens a scapegoat to blame when opting out of harmful peer pressure.
“They don’t necessarily have to be the ones saying, ‘No, that’s against the rules and I don’t want to do it,’” says Jarmusz. “They can kind of deflect that to their parents.”
A variety of tools to help prepare parents and teens for the dangerous summer driving season can be found on the AAA website.
