If you have recently acquired your license, you might be looking forward to your first summer in the car. As soon as school breaks up, you and your friends can take advantage of your license(s) to go out and have some fun.
The problem is, this is also the time when you are most likely to die on the roads. Fatal crashes involving teenage drivers reach their peak during the summer months. You might see things on the news talking about Memorial Day being the start of the 100 deadliest days of summer – it’s your age group they are talking about.
What is it about summer?
You might be wondering what is so dangerous about summer driving. After all, the weather is better and there are fewer hours of darkness. The thing that makes summer so dangerous for you and your friends is that you are more likely to be using your cars. You’ve yet to build up much experience, so you still have a very high crash risk compared to other age groups. Crashes are a big concern for inexperienced drivers at any time of year, so what makes summer more dangerous is that you’ll likely be doing more miles.
What can you do about it?
You don’t need to drive any differently from how you should be driving. Remember to pay attention to the road, stay at an appropriate speed and not to place too much faith in other drivers having seen you. Don’t let the summer spirit tempt you into doing things such as racing friends or drinking and driving. Finally, always wear your seatbelt and remember that sometimes it is best to leave the car at home and ask Mom or Dad for a ride, such as if you are tired or want to drink.
If someone hits you, they might automatically blame you because of your age. If it was their fault, you may be entitled to compensation.