More than 1,050 people were killed in crashes involving a teen driver in 2016 during the 100 Deadliest Days, the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day. That is an average of 10 people per day – a 14 percent increase compared to the rest of the year, according to data analyzed by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
As school lets out for summer, AAA Carolinas stresses the importance of preparing and educating inexperienced teen drivers for some of the most dangerous driving days of the year.
“The number of fatal crashes involving teen drivers during the summer is an important traffic safety concern and research shows that young drivers are at greater risk and have higher crash rates compared to older and more experienced drivers,” said Dave Parsons, President of AAA Carolinas. “Through education, proper training, and involvement of parents, we can help our young drivers to become better and safer drivers, which in turn keeps the roads safer for everyone.”
Speed and nighttime driving are significant factors contributing towards the number of crashes, and subsequently fatalities, involving teen drivers during the 100 Deadliest Days (statistics based on 2016 NHTSA FARS data as analyzed by the AAA Foundation):
Nighttime Driving
• 36 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities involving teen drivers occurred between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.
• 1 in 10 of all motor vehicle nighttime crash fatalities involved a teen driver.
• Data show a 22 percent increase in the average number of nighttime crashes per day involving teen drivers during the 100 Deadliest Days compared to the rest of the year.
Speeding
• 1 in 10 of all motor vehicle speed-related fatalities involved a teen driver.
• 29 percent of all motor vehicle deaths involving a teen driver were speed-related.
“Factors such as driving at night are clearly a particular danger to young drivers which has led to most states enacting restrictions on how late novice drivers can be out on the roads,” said Tiffany Wright, AAA Carolinas Foundation for Traffic Safety President. “Both North and South Carolina have taken steps to make the roads safer for teens and it is important that parents do their part by being active in their teen’s learning-to-drive process and educate them on their state’s laws.”