Summer Months Hazardous to Teen Drivers
30 Juin 2005 - 5:34PM
PR Newswire (US)
Summer Months Hazardous to Teen Drivers More teens likely to die in
a car crash between June and September AUBURN HILLS, Mich., June 30
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- School is out and more teens are driving
on the road. That's the good news and the bad news. Good because
teens are gaining more experience behind the wheel. Bad because
more teens die during the summer months in car crashes. Traffic
crashes are the No. 1 killer of teens. Between June and September,
the number of teens who die in car crashes is significantly higher
than at any other time of year. A recent study conducted by Mothers
Against Drunk Driving (MADD) showed that 602 teens died during
June, 624 in July, 625 in August, and 528 in September. In January
and February of the same year, the numbers of deaths were 442, and
403 respectively. (The numbers are from 2003, the last year
statistics were available.) "Losing a teenager in a car crash is a
tragedy no matter what time of year," said Deb Morrissett, Chrysler
Group Vice President - Safety and Regulatory Affairs.
"Unfortunately, with teens driving more in the summer, the risks
are greater." "Chrysler Group's Road Ready Teens program is an easy
and fun way to slowly acclimate teens to risks they face when
driving -- before they venture behind the wheel. We certainly want
to do our part to keep teens safer," said Morrissett. There are
several reasons for the summer increase in car-crash related
deaths: Teens drive 44 percent more during the summer; are more
likely to drive at night; and often travel with several teens in
the vehicle, which can be a major diversion. In addition, since
they are already inexperienced drivers, teens are more prone to be
distracted while behind the wheel. There is good news, however.
Research shows that when parents take an active role in their
teens' driving education and set guidelines, their teens' chances
of being in a crash can be reduced by up to one-third. That's why
Chrysler Group created Streetwise, a free online video game, and a
Road Ready Teens Parents Guide (http://www.roadreadyteens.org/ ),
to help open up dialogue between teens and parents to discuss safe
driving decisions. Road Ready Teens combines the popularity and
excitement of video games with the educational potential of these
games to challenge and teach teens about driving risks and safety
practices. The game takes teens on various driving missions where
distractions in the vehicle and hazards on the road challenge the
driver's senses and reaction times. The video game clearly
demonstrates that distractions such as multiple passengers in the
vehicle, and risks such as driving in adverse weather conditions
are difficult to master as new drivers. Road Ready Teens involves
the entire family by encouraging both parents and teens to sign a
driving contract based on recommendations of leading safety
experts. In addition, parents are urged to set a curfew for teens
and to grant driving privileges gradually. Teens are encouraged to
buckle up, obey the rules of the road and most of all, avoid
drinking and driving. Chrysler Group has committed tens of millions
of dollars to safety education programs geared toward children,
teens and parents, and has initiated a number of highly-successful
national safety education campaigns, including: Road Ready Teens,
Seat Check, a locator service for all child safety inspection
resources nationwide (http://www.seatcheck.org/ ), and Fit for a
Kid, a leading network of permanent child safety seat inspection
sites, offered free at participating Chrysler/Jeep(R)/Dodge dealers
(http://www.fitforakid.org/ ). DATASOURCE: Chrysler Group CONTACT:
Curtrise Garner, +1-248-512-2712, , or Max Gates, +1-248-512-2688,
, both of Chrysler Group Web site:
http://www.media.daimlerchrysler.com/
http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/ http://www.roadreadyteens.org/
http://www.seatcheck.org/ http://www.fitforakid.org/
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