The most dangerous period of the year for teen drivers and their passengers when it comes to car accidents is summer. According to an analysis of crash data compiled by AAA, seven of the top 10 deadliest days of the year are between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The Orange County Register reports that teen driving nearly doubles during the months of June, July and August as school vacations and relaxed curfews create a potent combination. Studies also show that teens resort to speeding on winding, rural roads for entertainment and thrills.
In Orange County, there are several locations that draw teens, who come to test out how fast their cars can go or challenge someone to a race. The six-mile road, which connects Lake Forest to Rancho Santa Margarita, Live Oak Canyon Road, is one such location. California Highway Patrol officers say they comb through social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter that advertise race challenges on Live Oak and other surrounding roads. Apparently, YouTube videos have popularized Live Oak. In fact, this winding and dangerous roadway, attracts young drivers from Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Los Angeles counties.
Crash Statistics Involving Teenagers
According to California Highway Patrol's statistics, 24 teenagers were killed on Live Oak Canyon Road in the period between 2005 and 2010. This year alone there were 19 car accidents there. More than 50 percent of those crashes involved drivers between the ages of 15 and 22.
AAA's statistics show that more than 7,300 teen drivers all over the country and passengers between 13 and 19 years of age died in traffic accidents between the Memorial Day and Labor Day holidays from 2005 to 2009. Approximately 422 young people die in car accidents during each of the summer months compared to 363 teen deaths during the non-summer months. Nationwide, car accidents is the biggest killer of teens. According the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 3,000 teens between ages 15 and 19 were killed and 350,000 sustained personal injuries in 2009.
Being a Responsible Driver and Parent
What is the solution to ending these tragedies? Education is the key. Driver education programs, including programs conducted by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) in partnership with local law enforcement agencies can be very effective. For example, the "Every 15 minutes" program where high school students see and experience first-hand the deadly effects of drunk driving, can be very powerful. Also, when MADD members go out to schools and talk in classrooms about losing a loved one in a DUI collision, it puts a face to an issue. Young people realize that this is not some story or a sound byte from television. This is real life and in real life, all actions come with consequences.
As an Orange County personal injury lawyer, who represents victims of drunk and negligent drivers, I invite all parents to lead by example. Do not drink and drive. Do not text or talk on a handheld cell phone when you drive. Do not eat or drink when you drive. We should teach our children how to be good drivers and responsible citizens by being one.
SLS Consulting