AAA Branches Offer Free DVD - Young Drivers: The High-Risk Years

AURORA, Ill., April 11 -- "The little girl driving that truck -- is she hurt bad?"

  "Yes, ma'am."
  "...Is she dead?"
  "Yes, ma'am."

These are words that no parent wants to hear. A 16-minute video produced by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) contains three such examples of real-life tragedy. Called Young Drivers: The High-Risk Years, the DVD explains why crash rates for teen drivers are high and provides guidelines for parents who want to lower the risk for their children. AAA Chicago is providing free copies of Young Drivers: The High-Risk Years at its branches throughout Illinois and northern Indiana. A complete list of branch locations is available online at http://www.aaa.com/ .

"The tragedy of teen driver crashes goes well beyond the teen driver and family," said Kris Lathan, director of public affairs for AAA Chicago. "These crashes also kill pedestrians and people in other vehicles -- that's somebody's mother, child, brother, or grandmother."

In fact, the majority of people killed in teen driver crashes are people other than the teen drivers themselves, said Lathan, citing a recent analysis of 10 years of crash data by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

The new analysis shows that, nationwide, young novice drivers comprise slightly more than one-third of all the fatalities in crashes in which they are involved; whereas nearly two-thirds of those killed are passengers in the novice driver's vehicle, occupants of other vehicles and pedestrians.

Separate studies completed by the IIHS have previously concluded that teenagers have higher crash rates than older drivers, and their crashes differ. IIHS analyses of fatal crash data indicate that teenage drivers are more likely to be at fault in their crashes. Teen-agers' crashes and violations are more likely to involve speeding than those of older drivers, and teenagers are more likely than drivers of other ages to be in single-vehicle fatal crashes.

The IIHS video, Young Drivers: The High-Risk Years targets the role of parents as the primary decision makers in determining when and if their teen progresses from one level of driving freedom to the next.

With the DVD, AAA is providing several documents detailing risk factors for novice drivers, a model parent-teen contract to help parents set limits on their teen's driving and a parent-to-parent contract to help start a dialogue with other parents on restricting teen passengers and driving during nighttime high risk periods.

"Regardless of what the state law says, parents should carefully consider if and when to allow their teen to transport other teens or ride with other novice teen drivers," said Lathan, "Even if it means playing 'chauffeur' for one more year."

This year AAA Chicago celebrates 100 years of service, as 2006 marks the membership organization's centennial celebration. Formed in Chicago in 1906, the company represents roadway interests for motorists and pedestrians and serves as a leading advocate for various traffic safety and travel-related issues.

For more information on any aspect of AAA Chicago's breadth of service including AAA's home, auto and life insurance products; travel-related services, AAA's Show Your Card & Save program; and/or any AAA membership service including emergency roadside assistance, please visit our Web site at http://www.aaa.com/ or call us toll-free at 1-877-YOUR AAA (968-7222).

AAA Chicago offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services. It is part of The Auto Club Group (ACG), the largest affiliation of AAA clubs in the Midwest, with 4.1 million members in eight states. ACG clubs belong to the national AAA federation, a not-for-profit organization, with more than 48 million members in the United States and Canada.