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AAA: Deadly Teen Crashes Jump 14% During 100 Deadliest Days

AAA Michigan is warning motorists about the 100 deadliest days.  It’s the annual notification of the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day when kids are out of school and are on the roads more.  Local representatives offer some tips for teens and parents.

“Teen driver involved crashes kill 10 people a day during the 100 deadliest days.”

That’s Steven Giffel, AAA Field Manager in West Michigan. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety says the average of ten people per day is a 14 percent increase compared to the rest of the year.  The statistics are alarming.

“More than 1050 people were killed in crashes involving a teen driver in 2016 during the 100 deadliest days, the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day.”

AAA says speed and night time driving are significant factors contributing towards the number of crashes and subsequent fatalities.

“36 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities involving teen drivers occurred between 9 pm and 5 am and again as you mention speeding, one in 10 of all motor vehicle speed related fatalities involve a teen driver.”

And as school lets out for the summer, AAA stresses the importance of preparing and educating inexperienced teen drivers for some of the most dangerous driving days of the year.

“AAA encourages parents to educate their teen drivers and themselves about risky driving behaviors. Parents should discuss with teens early and often the dangers of risky driving situations such as speeding and night time driving.  Teach by example and minimize your own risks behaviors when behind the wheel.”

AAA also suggests creating a parent-teen driving agreement that sets family rules for teen drivers.  Consider setting driving limits that are stronger than a state’s law and enforce those limits. 

More information can be found at teendriving.AAA.com.

Jennifer is an award winning broadcast news journalist with more than two decades of professional television news experience including the nation's fifth largest news market. She's worked as both news reporter and news anchor for television and radio in markets from Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo all the way to San Francisco, California.