Did you know that summer is the most dangerous time on the road for teens? However, you can do something about it. One of the best teen driving tips we have for you, as a parent, is to arm your teenager with defensive driving skills before they hit the road during the “100 Deadliest Days”.
The “100 deadliest days”
Teenage drivers are already at a high risk on the road. In fact, the CDC says that crash risk is highest during the first year after a person gets their license. This is further exaggerated during the 100 days between Memorial Day (in the USA this is the last weekend in May) and Labor Day when the risk of car accidents involving young drivers increases by 3x as reported by AAA. This 100-day span has become known as “the 100 deadliest days”.
Why is it deadlier for new drivers during the summer?
Many teenagers choose to learn to drive during the summer because of a lighter schedule and more favourable road conditions. These are great reasons to want to learn in the summer, but it must be taken into consideration that there are far more new drivers on the road in the summer than in other months. New, inexperienced drivers are more likely to make errors while driving that can cause unsafe situations.
Your new teenage driver is also highly likely to be encountering unfamiliar scenarios on the road as they drive more frequently in the summer. During the summer months it can be common to see increases in distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding and road rage.
Music, eating and drinking in the car, and speeding are major factors in road accidents under regular circumstances. Combine that with many more new drivers on the road during summer break and increased risk of impaired or aggressive drivers, and you have a recipe for disaster.
What can you do about it?
You may have more influence over your teen than you think. There is one clear opportunity to teach safe driving skills that presents itself to most parents: teen driving lessons and driving practice. By practicing driving with your teen, you can help them learn safe defensive driving techniques and familiarize themselves with common driving situations.
Did you know that most insurance companies recommend a minimum of 60 hours’ practice for new drivers before they get their license? However, most driving schools only provide between 8 and 25 hours of instruction time for new drivers, which leaves the remaining 35 to 52 hours to you! That means, even if you choose to send your teenager to a driving school, you are very likely to be the primary teacher for your teen!
In summary…
It may feel uncomfortable to prepare for frightening circumstances that your child may face while driving. However, it’s important to ensure that your teen develops their skill-set as a focused, defensive driver before they hit the road during the 100 Deadliest Days. By dedicating your time and following a solid lesson plan for defensive driving, you can help your teenager become a safe driver for life. Focus on defensive driving strategies with your child and practice, practice, practice!
