Thursday, June 04, 2009

Rural teen drivers at more risk for fatal crashes

A study released by Allstate Insurance Co. has found that rural teen drivers are more than twice as likely to be in a fatal car crash than their urban peers.

Federal crash statistics from 2000-2006 were reviewed for the study, which found that 51.47 of every 100,000 teen drivers on rural roads will be in a fatal crash. In urban areas, that number drops to 25.4. Historically, the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are the most deadly for teen drivers, likely due to increased events like graduations, proms and summer road-trips.

Michelle Lee, a field vice president for Allstate, urges parents and teens to learn more about safe driving tips. "While some areas post better scores than others [nationwide], it's time our entire nation acts against this public health crisis, which claims about 6,000 teen lives every year,' she told The Boomerang! in Moscow, Idaho. "Parents should start talking to their teens -- even before they get behind the wheel -- about smart driving decisions, while setting a good example through their own good driving behavior." (Read more)

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