This week is National Teen Driver Safety Week and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, a nonprofit research and educational organization has released a new study that provides insight into the driving behavior of teenagers.

This study shows that teen drivers are about 50 percent more likely to crash in the first month of unsupervised driving then after a full year of experience driving. Teens are also nearly twice as likely to crash in their first month of unsupervised driving then after two years of driving experience. The results of this study show that there are a few specific abilities that parents and driving teachers need to do a better job of helping teens develop before they begin driving on their own.

Research analyzed the crashes of new drivers and found there were three common mistakes that these teens committed: failure to reduce speed, inattention, and failure to yield. These three behaviors accounted for 57 percent of all the crashes in which teens were at least partially responsible. Researchers also looked at specific types of crashes and found that in most cases the likelihood of these accidents decreased as the drivers gained more experience. Most crashes seemed to results not from a lack of understanding, but from failure to master certain driving skills.

This study is just one that affirms AAA’s long-standing efforts to help parents prepare for their teens for independent driving by practicing under a wide range of progressively more challenging conditions.  Among the steps parents can take to improve teen’s safety as they start driving on their own AAA suggests:

- Practice, practice, practice. Once teens have their actual license it is still imperative that parents continue to practice with their teens to ensure that basic skills are mastered.

- Keep passengers out. Teen driver’s crash risks multiply with teenage passengers in the vehicle. 

- Limit night driving. Allow new teen drivers to drive at night only if truly necessary or to practice with a parent.

- Keep setting rules. Parents should continue to set and enforce rules above and beyond the state laws. In addition to night and passenger limits, set rules for inclement weather, highways, cities, and or other driving conditions in which a teen has not gained enough experience.

For more information about the teen driving visit AAAFoundation.org.

Teen Driving Programs  | Teen Safety Week 2010

This week is National Stop on Red Week and the National Coalition for Safer Roads is taking a stand against red-light running by promoting save driving habits.
National Stop on Red Week is sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration, and aims to educate drivers about the dangers of red-light running and hopes to reduce the number and severity of traffic crashes.

Here are a few reasons why you should stop on red:

• In 2009, 676 people were killed and 130,000 were injured in crashes that involve red-light running.

• About half of the deaths in red-light running crashes are pedestrians, bicyclists, and occupants in other vehicles that are hit by the red light runner.

• The T-bone intersection crashes caused by red-light runner’s result in the most severe injuries.

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that 96% of Americans are afraid of being hit by a red-light runner.

• More than 150 lives were saved in 14 of the biggest U.S. cities over a 5-year period where red-light safety cameras are implemented.

• Red-light safety cameras reduced traffic fatalities by 24 percent.

The NCSR is encouraging motorists to take the Safe Driver Pledge during National Stop on Red Week. By signing the pledge driver’s promise to follow the rules of the road and always stop on red. 

“National Stop on Red Week serves as an important reminder of the dangers or red-light running and the important of stopping on red. Preventing these crashes is in each driver’s control.”

For more information on National Stop on Red Week visit, www.StopOnRedWeek.com.

It’s June, and with June comes warm summer weather, days at the pool, lemonade, baseball, and Lane Courtesy Month. With a fairly self-explanatory title Lane Courtesy Month is the time of year when you try to practice lane courtesy.

Lane courtesy is where you only use the left lane for passing and once you have passed you move back to the right lane. Here are some of the benefits of practicing lane courtesy from the National Motorists Association website.

1. You're Less Likely To Be In An Accident
By not obstructing other drivers; traffic is able to flow more smoothly. When traffic flows smoothly, there is less tailgating, less weaving in-and-out of traffic, and therefore fewer accidents.

2. You'll Get Better Gas Mileage
Lane courtesy promotes the smooth flow of traffic and helps drivers maintain an even pace. Vehicles use the most gas when accelerating. Less braking followed by acceleration will improve fuel economy.

3. You'll Get To Your Destination Faster
Yielding to faster traffic reduces congestion. When traffic is flowing smoothly, highway capacity can be utilized to the fullest extent.

4. You Will Not Have To Deal With Road Rage
There's little doubt that "left lane hogs" are a source of irritation for many drivers. The courteous act of moving to the right can eliminate driver stress and conflict.

For fast drivers out there feeling vindicated, lane courtesy is a two way street. If a person is in high density traffic or near an on-ramp provide them with the time to make their lane changes comfortably without pressuring them. In the end, those that practice lane courtesy will be safer and more efficient drivers.

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