AAA: Talk To Teen Drivers About Distractions Behind The Wheel

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AAA of Michigan is urging parents to talk with their teen drivers about the danger of distractions behind the wheel. Spokesperson Susan Hiltz says the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is known as the “100 Deadliest Days” because young drivers are out on the roads in force. She says not paying attention leads to many fatal crashes involving young people. The latest AAA report compared new crash videos with those captured from 2007 -2012 and found consistent trends in the top three distractions for teens when behind the wheel in the moments leading up to a crash.

“Talking or attending to other passengers in the vehicle is about 15% of the crashes,” Hiltz told WSJM. “Talking, texting, or operating a cell phone is about 12% of the crashes, and last but certainly not least is attending to or looking at something else in the vehicle. That’s about 11% of the crashes.”

Hiltz says the average number of deaths from crashes involving drivers between 16 and 19 increases by 16 percent during the 100 Deadliest Days compared to other days of the year. She says it’s up to parents to speak with their teens and to also set a good example. Parents can get more information at http://teendriving.aaa.com .