In-Vehicle Cameras Capture First Months of Solo Driving

A study done by the AAA Foundation shows teen drivers are about 50 percent more likely to crash in the first month of driving due to inattention, failure to reduce speed and failure to yield. Researchers looked at specific types of crashes in relation to how long the driver had been licensed and found that some types of crashes occurred at high rates at first and declined with experience. A second study used in-vehicle cameras to monitor teens when they were learning to drive with parents followed by the first 6 months of licensed driving without parents. Research found that while teens had their learner's permits, routine trips on familiar roads under relatively easy driving conditions accounted for the bulk of driving time. The cameras also captured a number of close calls due to simple mistakes attributed to inexperience, texting, horseplay with passengers and running red lights. "This research serves as a great reminder for parents to stay involved in the learning process even after the law allows teens to drive without a parent in the car," says Peter Kissinger, AAA Foundation President and CEO. "Continued parent engagement can help teens gain needed driving experience and shape their habits for a lifetime of safe driving."