Automobile accidents remain the No. 1 killer of teens in America and I-26 in South Carolina is among the top 10 most dangerous roads in the U.S.
More than 5,000 teen deaths occur nationally each year, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). Car crashes remain the No. 1 killer of teens, with 2,614 teen drivers of passenger vehicles involved in fatal crashes in 2013, according to the NHTSA.
I-26 connects the state's three largest metropolitan areas, Charleston, Columbia and Greenville-Spartanburg.
National Teen Driver Safety Week (Oct. 18-24) is a reminder that drivers are far more confident in their ability than passengers, according to a campaign by Michelin North America.
The new survey commissioned by Michelin finds:
• The majority of drivers are confident in their own driving abilities (81 percent rank themselves highly), but 66 percent have felt unsafe when someone else was at the wheel.
• 3 in 4 (73 percent) have witnessed an accident or experienced a “close call” firsthand (76 percent), and 62 percent have been in an accident that someone else caused.
• 69 percent see other motorists ignoring safe-driving practices daily.
• Not surprisingly, 75 percent of drivers admit to “offering advice from the other seat.”
• The best sources of advice are still the tried-and-true: dad (selected by 52 percent), mom (32 percent) and driver’s education instructors (27 percent).
• The driving advice people receive most frequently includes signaling before changing lanes (75 percent) and staying in the right lane unless you’re passing (68 percent).
“We want to draw people into a national conversation about road safety during National Teen Driver Safety Week,” said Pete Selleck, chairman and president of Michelin North America. “Sharing even simple tips like how to maintain tires could mean the difference between life or death.”
The campaign is the latest step in Michelin’s ongoing efforts to increase awareness of road safety. A 2014 study by the tire manufacturer found significant gaps in teen road readiness, including tire-related safety knowledge and skills.
Learn more about tire maintenance and keeping young drivers safe on the road, including how to check tire tread and pressure, by visiting beyondthedrivingtest.com.