IRVING, Texas, May 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Allstate is urging
Texas teen drivers to focus on the
freeways this summer. While car crashes can happen any time, any
place, new data shows the number of crashes involving teen drivers
is higher on certain roads and highways in the state.
Interstate 45 in Harris County
had more car crashes involving teen drivers than any other roadway
in Texas between 2006 and 2010,
according to the data provided to Allstate by the Texas Department
of Transportation. Interstate 10, also in Harris County, had the second highest, and
Interstate 10 in Bexar County had
the third most.
|
|
Motor
Vehicle Crashes by Roadway and County Involving
Drivers Age
15-19 from 2006-2010 in Texas
|
|
Roadway/County
|
Total
Crashes
|
|
I-45, Harris
County
|
3,091
|
|
I-10, Harris
County
|
1,910
|
|
I-10, Bexar County
|
1,727
|
|
I-35, Bexar
County
|
1,668
|
|
SL1604, Bexar
County
|
1,648
|
|
I-410, Bexar
County
|
1,600
|
|
I-35, Travis
County
|
1,579
|
|
I-635, Dallas
County
|
1,489
|
|
US 59, Harris
County
|
1,440
|
|
FM 1960, Harris
County
|
1,365
|
|
I-45, Montgomery
County
|
1,276
|
|
I-10, El Paso
County
|
1,231
|
|
US 281, Bexar
County
|
1,201
|
|
I-35 E, Dallas
County
|
1,162
|
|
I-610, Harris
County
|
1,112
|
|
|
|
|
|
100 Deadliest Days for Teen Drivers
The time between Memorial Day and
Labor Day is known as the "100
Deadliest Days." More teens die in car crashes during this period
than during any other.
"Car crashes are the number one killer of Texas teens," said Michael Walker, an Allstate agent in
Austin. "Summer is almost here and
when school is out, more teens will be hitting the highways across
the state. This data should spur parents and community
leaders to take action and teach our teen drivers that speeding,
distractions and carelessness can be costly."
Another important reason for parents to talk to teens about safe
driving is they will listen. In a study from The Allstate
Foundation, almost 90 percent of teens surveyed said their parents
are the biggest influencers on their driving habits.
Learn the Laws
A comprehensive GDL program is the best way to reduce
teen-related auto accidents by giving states guidance and resources
to make their roads safer.
- Allstate supports the Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform
Protection (STANDUP) Act (S. 528 and H.R. 1515) in an effort to
save lives on America's roads and highways.
Allstate supports the establishment of comprehensive, uniform
GDL legislation at the federal level as state and national
evaluations of GDL have found crash reductions for 16 and
17-year-old drivers in the 20 percent to 40 percent range.
The Texas GDL law stipulates that drivers under age 18 cannot
use a wireless communication device, except in case of an
emergency, regardless of when their license was issued. The law
also states during the first 12 month period following a teen under
the age of 18 getting a driver license, they cannot drive:
- After midnight and before 5 a.m.
unless for employment, a school related activity or because of a
medical emergency.
- With more than one passenger under 21 in the vehicle who is not
a family member.
Make sure your family understands the current GDL law in
Texas. You can also find out
about federal legislation that could help make our teens safer on
the road nationwide by visiting facebook.com/save11.
X the TXT
Pledge not to text and drive, and help reduce teen deaths and
other distracted driving injuries. Join the X the TXT Facebook page
at facebook.com/XtheTEXT.
Download a Parent Teen Driver Contract
Parents can start the conversation with teens about the
importance of safe driving, set guidelines and discuss consequences
by downloading a parent-teen driver contract at
ProtectTeenDrivers.com.
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest
publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the
"You're In Good Hands With Allstate®" slogan, Allstate is
reinventing protection and retirement to help nearly 16 million
households insure what they have today and better prepare for
tomorrow. Consumers access Allstate insurance products (auto, home,
life and retirement) and services through Allstate agencies,
independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial
representatives in the U.S. and Canada, as well as via www.allstate.com and
1-800 Allstate®.
SOURCE Allstate