A new federal study has found that teen drivers and their young passengers are dying at an alarming rate.
The number of teenagers involved in deadly car crashes is rising for the first time in nearly a decade. New data from the American Automobile Association (AAA) reveal a 10-percent increase last year in teen driving deaths. Teens are more than one-and-a-half times more likely than adults to be involved in a deadly crash.
The AAA says parents who set stricter rules for their teen drivers before they get their license typically have fewer crashes. These behaviors are also shown in college aged kids. Colleges, in some parts of the United States are implementing programs to help increase student awareness of unsafe driving behaviors and prompting them to protect themselves and their friends.
John Corlett, director of public affairs for AAA says one reason why numbers are on the rise is because teens learn bad habits from their parents. He also says teens are not wearing their seat belts, especially in the back seat. New York has no law requiring that seat belts be worn in the back seat.
For the first time in ten years, more teens are being killed on the roads than last year. Practice driving with your teen as often as possible. We urge parents to get more involved with their teens’ driving lives by teaching safety behind the wheel, setting boundaries and being good role models.
If your teen or someone you know has been injured in an accident contact Rosenberg & Gluck for a free case evaluation.