No vacation for parents of teen drivers

The situation is improving, but summer remains a dangerous time for teen drivers and their passengers.

Graduated drivers licensing laws, with restrictions for driving hours, passengers and other privileges for the youngest drivers, have reduced the number of accidents and fatalities in Nebraska and other states where they have been implemented.

According the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety, the number of fatal and injury crashes for drivers ages 16 to 20 climbed from 6,379 nationwide in 1993 to 8,334 in 1998, when the graduated licenses began being implemented, then began dropping, from 8,146 in 1999 to 3,790 in 2010.

Other factors have certainly played a part, from safer cars, to buckle-up campaigns to outlawing texting while driving, but AAA Nebraska makes perhaps the most important point.

"Parents should not underestimate the critical role they play in keeping their teens safe, especially during these high-risk months," said AAA Vice President of Public Affairs Kathleen Marvaso. "Life feels more care-free when school's out and teens have more opportunities to drive or ride in cars late at night with other teens -- a deadly mix. With the majority of the most dangerous days falling during the traditional sumer vacation months, parents must realize that there is no summer break from safety, and be vigilant about remaining involved and enforcing rules with their teens."

The ideas will require as much or more self-discipline by parents than teens, but the AAA has some good ideas:

* Restrict driving and eliminate trips without purpose. Teens have three times as many fatal crashes as all other drivers, based on miles driven, and their crash risk is highest during the first year of driving. If $4 gasoline won't help eliminate needless trips, we don't know what will.

* Be a good driving coach. There's no substitute for windshield time with a patient, firm parent as a passenger.

* Limit the number of teen passengers and time as a passenger. Teen crash rates increase with each teen passenger added to the mix, and fatal crash rates for 16- to 19-year-olds increase fivefold when two or more teen passengers are present vs. when teens drive along. Parents should set firm rules on driving with teen passengers and riding as one.

* Limit night driving. A teen's chances of being involved in a deadly crash doubles when driving at night. AAA recommends newly-licensed teens not drive after 9 or 10 p.m. unless accompanied by a responsible adult.

* Establish a written parent-teen driving agreement. The company offers a sample at www.TeenDriving.AAA.com.

Summer is a busy time of year for teens and their parents, whether it's jobs, sports or vacation. But it's no time for parents to take a vacation from keeping their teen drivers safe.