Memorial Day to Labor Day – the best time of the year for teens as they trade text books for car keys, going to the beach or pool parties; unfortunately, it can also be the worst time of the year as it marks the 100 Deadliest Days on the road.
The 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are when the number of teen driving fatalities and injuries increases dramatically. According to a study by the FIA Foundation and the National Organization for Youth Safety, twice as many teens die on roads during the summer months as compared to other times of the year.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for young people worldwide. In the US, the crash risk is higher among 16 to 19 year olds than any other age group. Yearly, approximately 5,000 teens die in car crashes and another 300,000 are injured. That equates to 14 teens dying every day.
Experts say that the first year of unsupervised driving is by far the most dangerous.
A recent survey indicated that texting and or talking on a cell phone while driving are teen drivers’ biggest distractions behind the wheel. More than 49 percent of teens report texting while driving, and about 82 percent of teens report using cell phones while driving.
Passengers are another huge risk: driving with one teen passenger doubles the risk of being involved in a crash and driving with two or more passengers increases the risk of a crash exponentially.
Source: Baltimore Patch
http://bellmore.patch.com/articles/the-100-deadliest-days-for-teen-drivers#c