California Teen Driver Summer Safety Statistics & Resources
Teen drivers throughout the country are faced with countless dangers on city streets and highways. Teens are the demographic most likely to cause a car accident, technology poses the temptation for distracted driving, and scientific studies have even shown that the teen brain may not have developed the motor skills and emotional maturity to drive safely. As California teens hit the road more during the summer holiday, they should take precautions to stay safe and aware at all times. And since California teens receive their restricted license at 16 and their unrestricted license at 18, they can take the summer to boost their knowledge of state driver laws and practice safe driving techniques.
This resource is designed to raise awareness about the increased danger of summer driving for California teens and suggest methods to improve driving skills during the summer months. Take a look, and share your teen driving stories on our Facebook page.
Summer Driving Statistics
Each year, the National Organizations for Youth Safety host May as National Youth Traffic Safety Month, to raise awareness about the increased dangers of teen driving during the summer months. Here are some important statistics to keep in mind throughout the summer:
- There are nearly twice as many car accident deaths during the summer months than the rest of the year combined, according to the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Recording System.
- Teenagers have been responsible for almost 50 percent more drunk driving accidents during the summer months than the rest of the year, according to the Washington Regional Alcohol Program.
- In the summer of 2008, nine teens between the ages of 16 and 19 died each day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- The NHTSA and AAA report that in Northern California, the 101 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are the deadliest for people under 20. Teen car accidents begin to rise in May and reach their peak in July and August.
- An average of 104 drivers aged 16 and 17 are killed in both July and August, a 20 percent increase over other monthly teen car accident deaths, reports AAA.
Where to Get your License in California
There are many ways to prepare for the written and driving tests required to receive a California drivers license. First of all, visit the California Department of Motor Vehicles website for information on how to receive a license at any age. The CA DMV publication section also includes handbooks on California road laws and safety suggestions. For teens who learn better with audio and visual resources, the DMV provides an audio California Driver Handbook and videos on rules of the road, sharing the road, and the dangers of distracted driving.
If you feel that you would prepare more successfully for the drivers license tests in a classroom setting, most high schools will refer students to local, quality drivers education courses throughout California. Make sure the course has at least 30 hours of classroom instruction, and includes at least 6 hours of real driving experience. If you’re still having trouble, refer to this AAA guide on choosing a great driving school.
Once you’re ready for the test, call ahead to make an appointment with your local California DMV office. Refer to our interactive map below for address and phone number information of DMV offices throughout California:
View California DMVs in a larger map
California Summer Safety Events For Teen Drivers
Summer is the perfect time to brush up on your driving skills, because you’re free from the pressures of school work, after-school athletics practice, and other extra curricular activities. But there are plenty of opportunities to get involved outside of classroom education courses. Each year, a number of safety organizations in California and throughout the country support auto safety events designed to increase awareness and make drivers of all ages safer. June, for example, is National Safety Month, which includes Teen Driving Safety week and “On the Road, Off the Phone” week. View our full California motor caution calendar for more summer safety events:
For more teen driver safety resources, visit our Parent-Teen Safe Driving Contract and our checklist for what to do after a car accident.
Photo credit: Amanda Wagner
Andy Gillin received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California at Berkeley and his law degree from the University of Chicago. He is the managing partner of GJEL Accident Attorneys and has written and lectured in the field of plaintiffs’ personal injury law for numerous organizations. Since 1972 he has been helping seriously injured victims throughout northern California fight & win their personal injury cases. Andy is one of the top awarded & recognized wrongful death lawyers in northern California.