The Fourth of July: Synonymous with fireworks displays, leisurely barbecues and teen death.
Sadly, that last topic has become an annual staple of the holiday weekend. July 4 is the single deadliest driving day for teens, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
From 2006 to 2010, More than 800 people have died on the July 4 holiday, an average of 160 per year. Nearly 10 percent of the fatalities were teenagers, making it the deadliest day on the calendar for teenagers of driving age.
Some of the reasons may be obvious, namely alcohol consumption at Fourth of July parties. But there are others. "Teens are typically less-experienced drivers," said Tully Lehman, spokesperson for the Insurance Information Network of California, who also said teens are more prone to making mistakes on more-crowded highways.
The IIHS has proposed that states overhaul their young driver laws, and research indicates their updates could "halve or more than half" the rate of fatal crashes among 15 to 17-year-olds.
For a comprehensive look at the five things the IIHS proposes to curb teen deaths behind the wheel, click here.
Sadly, that last topic has become an annual staple of the holiday weekend. July 4 is the single deadliest driving day for teens, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
From 2006 to 2010, More than 800 people have died on the July 4 holiday, an average of 160 per year. Nearly 10 percent of the fatalities were teenagers, making it the deadliest day on the calendar for teenagers of driving age.
Some of the reasons may be obvious, namely alcohol consumption at Fourth of July parties. But there are others. "Teens are typically less-experienced drivers," said Tully Lehman, spokesperson for the Insurance Information Network of California, who also said teens are more prone to making mistakes on more-crowded highways.
The IIHS has proposed that states overhaul their young driver laws, and research indicates their updates could "halve or more than half" the rate of fatal crashes among 15 to 17-year-olds.
For a comprehensive look at the five things the IIHS proposes to curb teen deaths behind the wheel, click here.
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