Parents: 4 Safety Tips to Protect Your Teen Driver this ‘100 Deadliest Days’ Season

Summer is fun, but it also poses serious risks for teen drivers. The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is known as the 100 Deadliest Days for teen drivers. The risk of fatal collisions dramatically increases during this months. According to AAAThe 100 Deadliest Days For Teen Drivers Have Begun 24 Newsroom.acg.aaa.com, 30% of all teen traffic accident deaths occur during this period — that's roughly six tragic deaths every day. 

Teens often get behind the wheel late at night, carry multiple passengers, or engage in speedingSpeeding Risky Driving and distracted drivingDistracted Driving Risky Driving. Without years of driving experience to fall back on, they’re more likely to make unsafe decisions in high-risk moments. As a parent, you can play a vital role in reducing your teen's risk level with these high-impact tips to protect your teen.

1. Perform a Safety System Check  

Help your teen stay safe by taking their vehicle to a mechanic for a thorough safety system check before summer arrives. Your auto technician will go over every safety system in the vehicle, including airbags, tire pressure monitors, anti-lock brakes, and even windshield wipers, to ensure the components all work as expected and perform repairs as needed.  

With all these systems working correctly, teach your teen how to correctly use and maintain each oneResources Auto Central Teen Guide To Basic Car Maintenance Driversed.com. Remind your teen to never rely on the safety systems alone — for example, just because the newest cars have automatic safety technologyTrending Does In Car Safety Technology Help Your Drive Teen Safer Driversed.com doesn't mean that they can take their hands off the wheel. 

2. Install and Monitor a Dash Camera  

Dashboard cameras installed at the front and rear of your teen’s vehicle have the potential to reinforce good driving habits and prevent reckless activities on the roadway. Your teen will be better behaved when they know you're watching.

“Dash cams can go beyond simply capturing information about a given situation on the road; they can also serve as learning tools — when the footage is reviewed regularly,” said Chuck Hawks, CEO of Teen Driving Solutions School, Inc. “They can give a parent the chance to praise as well as correct a new driver’s practices.”  

He further stresses the importance of dash cams as a peer pressure deterrent, as teens can simply remind their friends that the cameras are rolling and reckless driving will come with serious consequences. Consider reviewing the footage on a daily basis to touch base with your teen about their overall driving habits.

3. Promote the Importance of Driving Without Distractions  

Although they will never admit it, teens look to their parents for guidance about driving. You are a powerful role model for your teen, so make sure to put away your cell phone and resist distractions while you are behind the wheel. Your teen will notice!

Furthermore, remind your teen that only a second of distraction can result in a serious collision, and cell phones are the biggest distractorTrending Dangers Distracted Driving And How Avoid Them Driversed.com. Researchers have foundArticles PMC3999409 Pmc that looking away from the road for just two seconds can double the risk of crashing.

4. Enroll Your Teen in a Defensive Driving or In-Car Training Course  

Online and in-person defensive drivingDriving Information Defensive Driving Defensive Driving Techniques Driversed.com One More Second Distracted Drivingcourses teach your teen the skills they need to avoid collisions. Throughout the course, teen drivers learn how to identify and deal with potential hazards on the roadway. After the course, enroll your teen in in-car training sessions Driving Lessons.aspx Driversed.comto reinforce the defensive driving techniques in real-life situations with professional driving instructors.   

When you actively prepare your teen to drive safely, you can reduce their risks during the 100 Deadliest Days — and all year long.