Nearly as Many Teens in Fatal Car Crashes During After School Hours as on Weekend Nights, According to AAA Minnesota/Iowa

BURNSVILLE, Minn.--Many parents rightfully worry about their kids being on the road on Friday and Saturday nights, but a new AAA Minnesota/Iowa analysis of crash data shows another time of the week – the after school hours – rivals weekend nights as the most deadly for teen drivers. The data reinforce the need for parents to be just as focused on monitoring their teens’ afternoon driving as during the weekend nights they’ve been conditioned to worry about, according to AAA Minnesota/Iowa.

In analysis of crash data, AAA Minnesota/Iowa found that nearly as many 16- and 17-year-old drivers were involved in fatal crashes between 3 and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday as were on Friday and Saturday nights between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. Between 2002 and 2005, the totals for fatal crashes were 1,100 and 1,237, respectively, for the weekday and weekend periods.

“Parents are right to be worried about their novice teen drivers being on the road during the high-risk evening and late night hours when most state licensing programs correctly limit teen driving,” said AAA Minnesota/Iowa. “But parents also need to be engaged in their teens’ driving activities during the after school hours when so many teens are on the road and, tragically, many are involved in deadly crashes.

“Many after school teen trips – driving to part-time jobs and home from sports and other activities – are appropriate as teen drivers gain experience. Yet during these unstructured hours between the end of school and when parents get home from work, many teens do dangerous things behind the wheel in cars loaded with passengers.”

AAA Minnesota/Iowa also noted that during these afternoon hours there is increased traffic on the roads, with commuters and adults making other trips, which makes driving more difficult for teen drivers and less forgiving when they make mistakes.

Currently, 44 states have graduated driver licensing systems that limit night driving for new teen drivers, and 35 states limit the number of teen passengers for a new driver.

AAA Minnesota/Iowa says parents can play a key role in going beyond state laws by being just as diligent in monitoring their teens’ afternoon driving as they would be on a Friday or Saturday night. AAA Minnesota/Iowa recommends that parents do the following:

1) Set very clear driving rules with your teen. Following the rules leads to a teen gradually increasing the driving he may do. Breaking the rules leads to fewer liberties. Parents can find a parent-teen driver agreement at www.aaa.com/publicaffairs.

2) Prohibit their new teen driver from carrying any passengers during at least the first three months of driving. Permit no more than one passenger for the rest of the first year of independent driving. Crash rates increase drastically for 16- and 17-year-old drivers as you add young passengers to a car. Thirty-five states limit passengers for new teen drivers. Every parent should do the same thing – regardless of state law.

3) Do not permit your teen to ride with a new teen driver. Carpooling with a schoolmate seems like a sensible way for teens to ride to school, home and activities, but it can promote risky behavior. Research shows that it is more dangerous for several teens to ride in one car than for them to drive individually in multiple vehicles.

4) Ban the cell phone – handheld and hands-free. Teens have trouble managing distractions, especially while driving. Even if there is no law in your state, it should be a family rule.

5) Require your teen to wear a seat belt every time he rides in a car. Teens have the lowest belt use rate of any age group, a tragic irony given that new teen drivers have the highest crash rates.

6) Make your rules known to other adults in your teen’s life. A parent-to-parent agreement with the parents of your teen driver’s friends or teammates can establish standard rules among a group of teenagers, making gradual licensure easier for everyone. Letting your neighbors know your teen’s driving rules can give you extra sets of eyes when you’re not around.

“Parents should remember that ‘there is no better role model than you,’” said Gail Weinholzer, director of public affairs, AAA Minnesota/Iowa. “If you speed, tailgate and run red lights, your teen probably will, too. Be a positive role model for your young driver and make sure your teen understands your family’s driving rules.”

AAA offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services to more than 49 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA Minnesota/Iowa is part of The Auto Club Group, with 4.1 million members in eight Midwest states.