Most parents probably fear the day their kid gets behind the wheel of a car, and according to a new report, not only do they have a right to, everyone else should be worried as well.
A report by AAA reveals that drivers between the ages of 16 and 17 are three times as likely as an adult to get into a deadly crash. And things are particularly bad during summer, considered the “100 Deadliest Days,” where teen driver crashes jump 15% as compared to the rest of the year, with 1,600 people killed in crashes involving teen drivers in the past five years.
So what’s to blame for the increase in deadly crashes by teens? Well, not surprising distraction is one of the biggest issues with 60% of teen crashes caused by them, with the top distractions being other passengers and smartphones. Not buckling their seatbelt is also a problem, with 60% of teens killed in crashes caused by a teen not wearing a seatbelt. Finally, speeding is also a huge issue, with 30% of fatal crashes involving speeding teen drivers.
Source: AAA