AAA has been working hard to make our members and the public aware of the many issues involved in traffic safety. One of those issues deals with teenage drivers and recently that subject has gained a lot of publicity. A major contributor to that publicity has been the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

The Foundation’s research identified some very revealing statistics involving teenage drivers when it analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That organization’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System analyzed all fatal crashes occurring between 1995 and the end of 2004 involving 15-, 16- and 17-year–old drivers of passenger vehicles.

The analysis showed crashes during that period involving 15- to 17-year-old drivers claimed the lives of 30,917 people. Drivers, themselves, accounted for 11,177 (36.2 percent) of the fatalities. However, the majority of fatalities in these crashes were people other than the drivers. The additional deaths included 9,847 passengers, 7,477 occupants of other vehicles operated by drivers 18 years of age or older and 2,323 non-motorists.

In Pennsylvania during the period studied, there were 1,067 deaths in crashes involving 15- to 17-year-old drivers. Again, in keeping with the larger study, drivers accounted for 36.6 percent of the deaths while passengers made up 33 percent of the fatalities.

Additional findings are quite surprising. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers, and the study showed 16-year-old drivers are involved in more than five times as many fatal crashes-per-mile driven as adults in their 30s, 40s or 50s.

According to the Foundation, nearly half of 16- and 17-year-old drivers involved in fatal crashes were carrying at least one passenger under the age of 21 and no adult passengers. Over one-third of the 16- and 17-year-old driver deaths occurred between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. This was despite the fact that there were fewer teens on the road during those hours.

Other findings include:

• 16- and 17-year-old drivers have the highest crash-rate-per-mile and are more than three times likely to crash than 18- and 19-year–old drivers.
• The crash rate triples for 16- and 17-year-old drivers
• The crash rate increases more than five times when teens drive without adult supervision and are carrying teenage passengers.

Teens who obey traffic rules and regulations, follow graduated driver licensing, and have actively involved parents and family are less likely to crash. There are several resources available to us that provide guidance.

The AAA Foundation offers an interactive and engaging DVD for teens. It’s called Driver-ZED and it puts users through 100 driving scenarios, allowing them to experience conditions it would normally take several years to encounter on the road. Also included is supplemental information to aid parents in the process.

I’d suggest you visit www.driverzed.org for more information on Driver-ZED. The DVD may be purchased through our Driving School located at our Estelle Drive office (800-723-7021). To learn even more about teenage driving, visit PennDOT’s web site at www.dmv.state.pa.us/young_drivers/index.shtml. It’s an excellent resource where you can find information about learner’s permit issuance, young-driver laws and lessons on safe driving.

Start your children and grandchildren off right by encouraging them to attend our AAA driving schools. AAA Central Penn’s driving and training schools are highly acclaimed and experienced at starting young drivers on correct paths to becoming excellent drivers. The Driving School offers a fine program for teen drivers; there are 30 hours of classroom time and six hours behind the wheel, one on one. All instructors are certified by the State Department of Education.

Safety has always been the cornerstone of AAA. We continue to be prepared to go the extra mile to keep our members and others as safe as possible. It is important that we all do our part in educating our future drivers in the safe ways of driving. We at AAA Central Penn are committed to that endeavor, and encourage you to assist in the guidance of our youth to become safe, responsible drivers.

R. Mac Reeves, Chairperson
AAA Central Penn