According to an AAA Foundation study released today, July and August are the deadliest driving months for 16- and 17-year-old drivers — crash deaths for drivers of these ages average nearly 20 percent higher in the two months, relative to the average monthly toll. The keys to lower death and injury crash rates are nighttime and passenger restrictions for teens behind the wheel, said AAA.

“The summer months can be particularly deadly for teen drivers,” said Susan Pikrallidas, AAA vice president of public affairs. “Summer vacation for teens often means unstructured schedules, less guidance from mom and dad, and more exposure to crashes.”

The main difference between crash-free and crash-involved teen drivers, according to the study, is overall compliance with state graduated driver licensing (GDL) programs, adherence to traffic laws and regulations, and parental involvement. Twice as many crash-free teens reported never having violated their state's passenger restriction provision than teens who had crashed.

For the study, the Traffic Injury Research Foundation compared crash rates and crash patterns of teenage drivers in one area with nighttime and passenger restrictions during the intermediate stage of GDL to those in another area without such restrictions in GDL programs. TIRF also surveyed a random sample of 500 crash-free and 500 crash-involved, newly licensed teens and their parents in each of two jurisdictions to compare their experiences and characteristics.

According to the study, death and injury crash rates for 16-year-old drivers were 20 percent lower in states with nighttime and passenger restrictions. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers, and government data indicate that 16-year-olds are involved in more than five times as many fatal crashes per mile driven as are adults in their 30s, 40s, or 50s. The study also concluded that half of 16- and 17-year-old drivers involved in fatal crashes are carrying at least one passenger under age 21. Additionally, more than one-third of deaths of 16- and 17-year-old drivers occur between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., although there are fewer teens on the road during those hours.

More information is available at www.aaanewsroom.net.

Special Reports /

Teen Drivers Enter Deadliest Driving Months

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