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AAA: Top Deadly Mistakes Made by Teen Drivers

teendriving.aaa.com

AAA reports teen drivers have been involved in nearly 14 thousand fatal crashes the past 5 years, and over 42 hundred of them involved speeding.

After conducting a survey of 142 driving instructors, AAA has found the top three mistakes teen drivers make while learning to drive are speeding, distracted driving, and not properly scanning the road.

Driver Training manager for AAA, Michael Formanowicz, says parents can help their teen drivers by setting a good example in those areas.

"Another thing parents can do is make sure their teens get lots and lots of practice. Of course they have to be practicing the right things.  A lot of people say 'practice makes perfect,' but what we believe here is 'perfect practice makes perfect,'" he said.

The AAA survey has found that parents are worse at preparing their teens to drive now compared to just a decade ago.

Formanowicz says the most important thing parents can do is take an active role and if possible get their kids in a formal driving program, and encourage them to get behind the wheel.

He says AAA encourages teens to ask their parents to allow them to drive at any possible opportunity.

Click here for more information from AAA.