The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day have been designated by both Volvo and AAA as the “100 Deadliest Days” for teenage motorists. During this period, teenagers seek and often receive expanded driving privileges from parents because of prom, graduation and summer vacation. Far too often, these special moments can turn to tragedy because cars filled with celebrating teenagers result in driving distractions for inexperienced drivers who make critical driving mistakes. This time period includes seven of the ten deadliest driving days for teen drivers.
In one notable tragedy reported by national media sources, a childcare provider lost her 18-year-old daughter in the late hours after her daughter’s prom. The daughter was not driving but was a passenger in a car driven by a teen driver with 6 other teenage passengers. The vehicle was involved in a single vehicle accident, and five of the passengers were ejected from the vehicle resulting in the daughter’s death. The mother indicated after the collision that she wished she had talked to her daughter about driver safety, including distracted driving and drunken driving. The mother believed that if she had spent more time talking to her daughter about the risk of distracted teen driving her daughter might be alive today.
There are a number of new studies by AAA that indicate both the positive impact of parents taking time to discuss driving accident risks and traffic safety with their kids and the dangers of teenager drivers being distracted by teen passengers. A number of recent studies by AAA indicate that earlier and more extensive conversations with teenage drivers about driving safety results in teen drivers that are less likely to participate in high risk driving behavior. This research suggests that it is important to take time especially during this particularly dangerous period for teen drivers to discuss the most serious driving risk with your kids old enough to drive, including speeding, drunken driving and distracted driving.
Another recent study by AAA indicates that there is a direct correlation between the number of passengers in a car driven by a teenager and teen accident fatality rates. The results of the study found that the fatality rate for teen drivers is nearly 45% higher when just one passenger under 21 is present in a vehicle. These rates jumped to 66% with two passengers under 21, and three passengers meant the fatality rate for teen drivers tripled. The study magnifies the importance of parents standing firm that their teenager should neither agree to transport teen passengers nor agree to be a passenger in a vehicle driven by a teen driver. The combination of driver inexperience and driving distractions is a potentially deadly mix. When teen drinking is added to the equation, the results can be heartbreaking.
Teen drivers in California are not allowed to transport passengers under the age of 20 for the first twelve months that they have their driver’s license or until they reach the age of 18. The AAA studies suggests that parents may want to consider discussing the issue with their kids and even think about imposing more extensive restrictions or rules.
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If your teenager has been injured or been taken from you in a fatal collision, our experienced San Francisco car accident attorneys may be able to help. It is important to contact us as soon as possible because critical deadlines apply. We invite you to contact The Law Office of Ian Zimmerman for your free initial consultation. We are open 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., speak Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese, and are available for weekend, evening, home and hospital meetings and visits. We also offer free initial consultations and work exclusively on a contingency fee basis so that you pay nothing if we don’t win your case.