Teen drivers and the “100 deadliest days”
Communication from parents is the best way to keep teens safe during the period from Memorial Day to Labor Day, according to AAA.
This stretch of time is sometimes referred to as the 100 deadliest days, and more than 8,300 traffic fatalities in crashes involving teen drivers occurred in this time period between 2008 and 2018 nationwide. In Kentucky, teen drivers are at higher risk of crashing during summer driving than any other group.
The Traffic Safety Culture Index published by the AAA Foundation says 72 percent of drivers between 16 and 18 years old admitted to engaging in risky driving behavior in the 30 days prior to the survey. The risky behaviors included:
- Driving 10 mph more than the speed limit on residential streets
- Driving 15 mph more than the speed limit on highways
- Texting while driving
- Running red lights
- Driving without a seat belt
- Driving while drowsy
- Driving aggressively
The most common risky behaviors were driving 10 mph more than the speed limit in residential areas (47 percent), driving 15 mph more than the speed limit on highways (40 percent), and texting while driving (35 percent).
AAA recommends parents talk with their teenage drivers often about appropriate driving behavior, supervise their driving for at least 50 hours and create a driving agreement that establishes the family rules for young drivers.
In cases where people are injured in motor vehicle accidents in Kentucky, an attorney might be able to help. An attorney who has experience practicing personal injury law may help by organizing medical records, interviewing witnesses, conducting depositions or otherwise gathering evidence to build a case for trial. In many cases, the attorney might be able to negotiate an out-of-court settlement with at-fault parties and their insurers or draft and file a complaint for damages in civil court.