Here are some important safety tips and cautionary stats for teen drivers.
More US teenagers 16 to 19 get a driver’s license during the summer months than any other part of the year — and more are killed in accidents. Here’s a look at young drivers and what they can do to stay safe.
54% — Percentage of teenagers in the United States who obtain a driver’s license before their 18th birthday
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING FOCUSED
> The presence of a cellphone is the second most dangerous threat to teen driver safety nationally. On average, teen drivers who were using their phones before a crash spent 4.1 out of the 6 seconds before impact looking away from the road.”
> The number one danger? Having other teens in the car. Passengers were present in 36 percent of all crashes by teen operators nationwide in 2013, with 84 percent of those passengers estimated to be ages 16 to 19.
> Wearing a seat belt reduces the risk of crash injury by 45%
1 — Rank of motor-vehicle accidents among US causes of death for teens ages 16 to 19
1 — Rank of the 16- to 19-year-old age group for crash risk
250 — Average number of teens killed nationwide in car accidents each month of the summer in 2013
