Most teenagers love the summer due to the sunshine, the lack of school and the freedom from parents. It’s the best season to relax and reconnect with friends after a hectic school year. However, summer can quickly turn deadly for most teen drivers.
According to the AAA, more than 300 people in Pennsylvania were killed in crashed involving teen drivers from 2008 through 2018. All these accidents occurred during the “100 Deadliest Days,” a period between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
The most dangerous habits among teenagers
The organization suggests that the mixture of freedom, lack of school and new licenses could result in more teenagers hitting the roads in an unsafe manner. Some of the most common deadly habits teen drivers practice are:
- Excessive speeding in residential areas and on the highways
- Texting while driving
- Red-light running
- Aggressive driving
- Drowsy driving
- Driving without a seatbelt
- Drinking and driving
All these habits could easily harm other drivers as well as the teens themselves. It begs the question of what parents can do to protect their kids on the roads.
What to preach as a parent
There are a few ways parents can help their teens drive safely this summer, including:
- Acting as a role model for how to conduct yourself behind the wheel
- Having a conversation about the dangers of driving and the potential consequences of deadly behaviors
- Accompanying your teen as they drive to ensure they are practice proper techniques on the streets
- Establishing rules for their driving and punishments if they break those rules (like taking away their driving privileges)
Each conversation will look different depending on the family and your teenager. But it’s important to preach the importance of safety before they drive to the beach or a friend’s house this summer. It could lead to a safer future for them.