Summer is a popular time for Michigan drivers to hit the road. But it’s also one of the deadliest times for one age group to be behind the wheel.
The “One Hundred Deadliest Days” is the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day. It accounts for thirty percent of deaths nationwide... involving teen drivers.
Triple A spokesperson Adrienne Woodland said traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for teens between sixteen and nineteen years old.
“In Michigan, on average, about sixty-four young drivers are involved in fatal crashes each year. 36% of those crashes occurred during the 100 deadliest days,” she explained.
Woodland says new teen drivers are three times more likely to be in a crash than adult drivers. She says distracted driving, involving phones, speeding and not wearing a seatbelt are distraction factors but the number one distraction is having other teen passengers in the car.
"Distraction plays a role in nearly six out of 10 teen crashes,” Woodland said.
"The single most important thing parents can do to help their teens become safe drivers is to be involved in their ‘learning to drive’ process,” said Rachel Wilson, Director of Driver Education Programs, AAA.
Triple A Michigan offered some tips to help parents:
- Lead by example. Minimize risky behavior when you drive. Don’t drive aggressively, avoid distractions, and always wear your seatbelt. Your driving skills and judgement behind the wheel shape your child’s view of safe driving habits, even before they’re old enough to drive. Make safe driving a priority in your own life.
- Conduct at least 50 hours of supervised practice driving. Let your teen drive in a variety of conditions including inclement weather, busy interstates, and at night. This will help them become a more confident driver in imperfect situations.
- Teach defensive driving skills. Help your teen anticipate potential risks by constantly scanning the road for hazards. Then share advice for how to safely avoid them.
- Establish a parent-teen driving agreement which sets family rules like when the teen can drive, where they can go and with who. Then clearly outline the consequences for breaking the rules and rewards for driving safe.
Driving simulator programs and training is offered on various sites online.
