Summer: Most Da…

Summer: Most Dangerous Time
for Teen Drivers

The IIHS is perhaps best known for the safety crash ratings given to cars sold in the U.S. They also publish a lot of research. Here’s some data from 2010, the latest year for which data has been collected and compiled. The chart shows the number of fatal teen driver crashes by month. Clearly, July and August — summer vacation time — is the most dangerous time for teens

Fifty-five percent of motor vehicle crash deaths among teenagers in 2010 occurred on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths in 2010 occurred most frequently between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. (17 percent) and between 9 p.m. and midnight (17 percent). The message here is obvious. Summer time puts the greatest number of teens on the roads. Teens need to eliminate distractions when driving, wear seat belts, obey speed limits and follow state GDL (Graduated Driver Licensing) laws that put restrictions on the number and age of passengers, night time driving and other high-risk behaviors. Read more at the Insurance Institute for Highway Saftey (IIHS).