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AAA Mid-Atlantic reports that the most dangerous time of the year for teen drivers is the summer. This is when teenagers have more free time on their hands and a care-free attitude about driving. They are also in their cars more; AAA estimates that teens driver 44 percent more during the summer than during other times of the year.
Teenage attitudes towards driving safety also factor into increased summer accident rates. Many teens are easily distracted while behind the wheel, and combined with their inexperience a few seconds of distraction can have deadly consequences. In addition, teens don’t always realize that bad things like serious car accidents can happen to them, an attitude that is reflected in their sometimes reckless behavior.
In Virginia last summer, 35 teenagers died from May through August and 50 died during the same period the year before. One big risk factor for teen drivers is alcohol involvement; teens are more likely than other age groups to be involved in an alcohol-related crash.
Parents of teen drivers should take the time to discuss driving risks and behaviors with their children. Parents should also remind teens of Virginia’s novice driver laws. These include curfew restrictions for drivers under the age of 18, restrictions on the number of passengers that a teen driver can have in their car, and cell phone and texting restrictions for teen drivers.
Read More About Teens at a greater risk of dying behind the wheel during the summer...
