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Community Corner

Helping Teens Steer Clear of Summer's 100 Deadliest Driving Days

While most kids are excited for school to end and summer to begin, many parents – particularly those with driving-age children – are on edge.  The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day has been labeled the “100 Deadliest Days” for teen drivers.  With annual events like graduation parties, along with the start of summer break, more teen drivers are on the roads in June, July and August.  In fact, according to AAA, an average of 399 teens died in traffic crashes during each of the summer months (May-August), compared to a monthly average of 346 teen deaths during non-summer months.

There are many steps parents can take to help educate their teens about how to stay safe behind the wheel, including enrolling them in driving school and having frank conversations about the dangers of distracted driving, which covers a whole host of behaviors such as fiddling with the car stereo, applying make-up, or texting on a cell phone.  In fact, the perfect time to begin the conversation is this weekend by attending the Arrive Alive driving simulation at the Verizon Wireless Glen Burnie store located at 6711 Ritchie Highway. 

Starting at 11:00 through 5:00 pm, you and your teenage driver can experience in real-life the potential consequences of what can happen when you text while behind the wheel in the Arrive Alive simulator.  The stationary test vehicle is equipped with sensors connected to the gas and brake pedals, as well as the steering wheel, which will measure your response times and record your reaction as you try to type and send a text from behind the wheel. Each participant will be asked to take the It Can Wait pledge to never text and drive, as research indicates that texting while driving makes you 23 times more likely to be involved in a car crash. Everyone will receive a free key chain resembling an actual driver’s license with their picture in the Arrive Alive simulator on one side and their signed pledge on the other – an excellent reminder that you’ll see every time you put the keys into the ignition.

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Texting and driving is a serious social challenge that requires behavioral change.   By tackling it together with our kids, we can work to save lives.

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