AAA refers to the stretch of days between Memorial Day and Labor Day as the “100 deadliest days of summer” because fatal car accidents tend to increase, especially involving teens.
AAA Oklahoma reported that improvements to the state’s Graduated Driver License (GDL) laws and other factors have resulted in fewer fatalities involving teens on the state’s roadways, but car accidents are still the leading cause of death for this demographic.
This problem tends to be worse during the summer months, when teens have more free time. In fact, AAA reported that there were about 220 teen drivers and passengers who were killed nationally in car accidents during each of the summer months in 2013, which represents a 43 percent increase compared to the other months of the year.
This isn’t to say that parents should forbid their teens from driving during the summer months, but it is a good reminder for parents to educate their teens on safe driving habits, if they haven’t already.
Two important safety issues for parents to focus on include distracted driving and impaired driving. (Check out this post on the new texting while driving ban that will soon take effect in Oklahoma, and this post on the aftermath of a drunk driving accident.)
Additionally, AAA suggests negotiating a contract with teens that helps parents to enforce rules about issues such as the number of passengers the teen driver can carry and whether or not driving at night is permitted.
As a personal injury law firm, we have witnessed first-hand the devastating effects that fatal motor vehicle accidents cause, especially when they involve teens.
Please talk to your teens today about staying safe on Oklahoma’s roadways, so it can be a fun and safe summer for all.
