DENVER (June 2, 2021) - Memorial Day kicked off the unofficial start of summer and, with it, the most dangerous time of the year for young drivers. Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for American teens between ages 16 and 19, and fully 30 percent of all teen roadway fatalities occur during the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day - the "100 Deadliest Days."
To help counter these tragedies, AAA today announced that its award-winning "How to Drive" curriculum, taught at thousands of brick-and-mortar driving schools nationwide, will now be offered online directly to Colorado students.
"The pandemic has taught everybody just how much we can do virtually, and that now includes driver's ed," said Skyler McKinley, regional director of public affairs for AAA. "We're excited to offer this nationally renowned program to teach Colorado's teens how to drive wherever and whenever they choose - all at a fraction of the cost of in-person driver's education programs."
Built on nearly a century of industry-leading driver education expertise, AAA's new online program incorporates the latest information on vehicle technology and roadway dangers in a 30-hour, interactive course approved by the State of Colorado for all classroom driver's ed requirements.
"For millions of Americans, for nearly a century, 'AAA' has been synonymous with driver's ed. We're excited to carry that legacy ahead with the next generation, when and how they expect," McKinley said.
Parents, teens, and other drivers can learn more at AAA.com/HowToDrive.
The 100 Deadliest Days
As the pandemic eases, many novice drivers will be hitting the roads - some experiencing significant traffic for the first time behind the wheel. That increases the chances they're involved in a crash: For every mile driven, drivers between 16 and 17 years old are three times more likely to be involved in a deadly crash compared to adults.
Nationwide (2010-2019)
• Each year, an average of 2,081 teen drivers are involved in fatal crashes. 636 of those (30%) occurred during the 100 Deadliest Days.
• More than 7,038 people died in teen-involved summertime crashes from 2010 to 2019. That's more than seven people a day each summer.
Colorado (2010-2019)
• An average of 13 teen drivers are involved in fatal crashes during this time each year.
• On average, 40 people are killed in teen-involved crashes every year; 15 of those occur during the 100 Deadliest Days.
• 255 people were killed in teen driver-related crashes during the past 10 summers.
Advice for Parents
• Talk with teens early and often about abstaining from dangerous behavior behind the wheel, such as speeding, impairment and distracted driving.
• Teach by example and minimize risky behavior when you drive.
• Establish a parent-teen driving agreement that sets family rules for teen drivers.
• Conduct at least 50 hours of supervised practice driving with your teen.
• Enroll your teen in both online and in-person driving courses.
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About AAA - The Auto Club Group
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AAA Colorado is a proud part of The Auto Club Group (ACG), the second-largest AAA club in North America with more than 14 million members across 14 U.S. states, the province of Quebec and two U.S. territories. ACG and its affiliates provide members with roadside assistance, insurance products, banking and financial services, travel offerings and more. ACG belongs to the national AAA federation with more than 60 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA's mission is to protect and advance freedom of mobility and improve traffic safety. For more information, get the AAA Mobile app, visit AAA.com, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
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