The death of teen drivers has increased as automobile technology and mobility improved in the past years. Apart from speeding, a recent survey revealed some of the common driving mistakes that teenagers commit leading to a fatal crash or even death.
Approximately 14,000 fatal crashes associated to teen driving have been recorded in the United States occurred over the past five years. And 4,200 of those crashes are due to speeding, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).
"Involved parents really can help save lives, so it's important for parents to coach their teens to slow down, as well as to avoid other common mistakes," say Madison quoted AAA's manager Bill Van Tassel as saying.
A survey according to Newsroom used data of 142 driving instructors nationwide and showed three common mistakes teens commit of which accidents become the result. And here below are some of the significant facts gathered from the survey:
Poor Visual Scanning: Where driving with tunnel vision and not properly scanning the road for possible risks or hazards become a less priority by teen drivers.
Speeding: Most teens are not afraid or do not care to travel according to the posted speed limits or too fast for road conditions.
Distraction: Most teens cannot discipline themselves to drive without holding their phones. Talking with passengers or looking at other objects in the vehicle are also among the causes of many deadly car crashes in the past years.
"We all know that the combination of inexperience and risk-taking can be a deadly one," said Jennifer Ryan, Director of State Relations for AAA to Newsroom. "Parents need to understand the common mistakes teens are making and take the time to help their teens learn how to stay safer on the road when they are learning to drive," she added.
AAA recommends that teen drivers should enroll in a driver education program to learn how to do safe driving and avoid fatal crashes. Parents are also said to set good examples to their teens when it comes to driving.
