If you didn't know that traffic crashes are the No. 1 killer of teen-agers in America, you're not alone. In a survey conducted by AAA, only 22 percent identified traffic crashes as the greatest threat to teens. Almost half listed the biggest risk as drug addiction, which ranks 28th among all causes of death for persons in this age group.
More statistics:
15- to 20-year-olds account for only 7 percent of the driving population but are involved in 14 percent of fatal crashes and nearly 20 percent of total crashes.
In 76 percent of fatal crashes involving 15- to 20-year-old drivers, police reports show error or other factors related to driver behavior are caused by inexperience, poor driving skills, risk-taking or poor decision making.
AAA is a vocal advocate for novice and mature driver safety programs. The association's current effort seeks to pass graduated driver licensing laws in all 50 states. The program focuses on three main areas:
Raise awareness of the importance of novice driver safety and incorporate the issue into the national public health agenda.
Mandate more behind-the-wheel driving experience, provide guidelines for selecting driver education courses, and increase parental involvement in teen driving training.
Implement a graduated licensing system for novice drivers in all 50 states and eliminate deficiencies in the licensing process that allows new drivers to become fully licensed without ensuring they are ready to drive.
When AAA started its campaign in 1997, only eight states had graduated driver licensing laws. Today, 50 states and the District of Columbia have passed GDL laws.
But AAA isn't stopping there. The organization is pushing state legislatures to pass the strongest, most comprehensive laws possible. The GDL law AAA endorses could over 10 years account for up to 1.5 million fewer crashes, 500,000 fewer injuries and 500 fewer deaths among 16- and 17-year old drivers.
It's never easy to change individual behavior and attitudes. But AAA believes strongly that driving is not a "rite of passage" - a teen's 16th birthday should not automatically entitle him or her to full driving privileges.
The correct approach is to introduce the responsiblity of driving in graduated states through a proven training curriculum based on the most common causes of teen-drive crashes.
For more information, contact your local AAA club.
Welcoming Your New Driver
Brochure outlines AAA tips for parents that will help safeguard teens and give a little peace of mind when turning over the keys to a teen driver.
Choosing A Driving School
Driver education courses are designed to teach new drivers the fundamental skills and basic knowledge required to drive a motor vehicle. Your search for a quality school may be more successful if you know what to look for in facilities, instructors, structure and lesson plans. Tips in the following brochure may make it easier for you to select the best driver training school for you.
Teen Drivers: Everyone is at Risk
Analysis that shows that between 1998 and 2007 crashes involving 15- to 17- year-old drivers claimed the lives of 28,138 people, of which 10,388 (36.9%) were those drivers themself. However, the majority of fatalities in these crashes were people other than those drivers, and included 8,829 of their passengers, 6,858 occupants of vehicles operated by drivers 18 years of age or older, and 2,063 nonmotorists.
Parent Guidelines
AAA's Parent-to-Parent Teen Driving Discussion Guide to help you, your teens, their friends and their parents develop rules that will help you all get through this exciting process more safely and with a bit less anxiety.
The annual Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills competition encourages young people from the United States and abroad to choose careers in automotive repair. Scholarships and other awards total in the millions.
