Summer months prove deadliest for teen drivers

Parents of teenage drivers beware: the summer months are the deadliest for teenage drivers, statistics show. Teenage road deaths increase about 20 percent during the months of July and August, when most teens have summer recess, according to an analysis by AAA.

"Summer vacation for teens often means unstructured schedules, less guidance from mom and dad, and more exposure to crashes," said Susan Pikrallidas, vice president of AAA Public Affairs, in a press release. "Enforcing safe driving rules that include passenger and nighttime limits is essential to keeping your teen and others safe on the road."

Concerned parents should also be aware that road accidents are the No. 1 cause of death for 16-year-olds, and that government data shows teenage drivers are involved in five times as many crashes per mile driven than motorists in their 30s to 50s. 

But since forcing teens to relinquish their keys for summer may be harsh or impractical for some parents, the question lingers: what can one do?

First, parents could forbid or restrict a teen's driving at night. Data shows that one-third of teens killed in road accidents were driving between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., despite the fact fewer teens drive during these hours.

Parents could also restrict how many friends a teenage driver can have in their car at once. According to the Auburn Journal, the likelihood of an accident increases fivefold when two or more teenage passengers are present in a vehicle operated by a 16- to 19-year-old driver.

Also, parents should not rush through their son or daughter's driving lessons. Some driving instructors suggest that six months - a common timeframe between a teen getting their learner's permit and license - is not long enough to properly train a 16-year-old on road safety.

Sophia Holten, a driving instructor in Auburn Calif., told the Auburn Journal that she sees two types of drivers: those who are cautious and patient, and those who are in a rush to get their license. When she encounters the latter, she often warns the parents that their teen is at high risk of being involved in a road accident.

"I am usually right about those students," Hotlen said.