Nearly 50 youngsters died in automobile crashes final yr throughout the Bay State, as the full variety of deadly teen driver crashes reached its highest level in additional than a decade.
Distracted driving was the highest reason behind general teen automobile accidents final yr in Massachusetts, whereas greater than half of adlescent drivers or passengers who have been killed in crashes weren’t sporting their seatbelt.
Last yr, 49 folks have been killed in crashes involving 16-year-old to 19-year-old drivers — the primary time that yearly whole had eclipsed 40 fatalities in additional than a decade, in accordance with a brand new evaluation from AAA Northeast.
The rely of 49 teen deaths was the very best since 56 folks have been killed in such crashes in 2008. This bounce in Massachusetts mirrors the rising variety of folks killed in teen driver crashes throughout the nation.
“Teen driver crashes affect everybody on the road,” stated Mark Schieldrop, of AAA Northeast. “Parents and caregivers play a critical role in making sure young drivers learn in a safe environment.”
Overall final yr, there have been 16,709 teen drivers concerned in crashes within the Bay State — equal to at least one teen-involved crash each 32 minutes.
The high 5 causes for these crashes have been: Driver inattention or distraction (2,590 crashes); failure to yield right-of-way (1,651 crashes); following too intently (1,457 crashes); dashing (932 crashes); failure to remain in lane/operating off highway (617 crashes). This teen driving crash information is from the state’s IMPACT crash portal.
Here are AAA’s ideas for folks when speaking to their teenagers about driving:
- Wear your seatbelt: Teens mannequin dad and mom’ behaviors, and sporting a seatbelt is the perfect safety you can provide your self within the occasion of a crash.
- Set limits on different passengers: Research reveals the chance of a deadly crash dramatically will increase when teen passengers accompany a teen driver. However, a guardian or guardian within the automobile decreases the chance of a deadly crash.
- Sign a Parent-Teen Driving Agreement: Lay down some floor guidelines in your teen driver that exceed the Junior Operator restrictions.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”