VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Teen drivers were involved in nearly 14,000 fatal crashes over the past five years, according to AAA Tidewater.
Of those fatal crashes 4,200 were speed related.
In Virginia alone 150 teen drivers were killed and 20,647 were injured in the past five years, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles highway safety records.
In a new AAA survey of driving instructors, speeding was listed as one of the top three mistakes teens make while learning to drive. 65% of the instructors surveyed reported that parents today are worse at preparing their teens to drive, compared to a decade ago.
The survey was called “Skills of Novice Teen Drivers” and 142 driving instructors revealed the top three mistakes teens make when learning to drive.
- Speeding– going over the posted speed limits or driving too fast for current road conditions
- Distraction– includes interacting with a cell phone or talking with passengers
- Poor visual scanning– includes driving with tunnel vision and not scanning the road for hazards
Resources to help parents choose a driving class and to coach their young drivers on how to safely drive can be found at TeenDriving.AAA.com
