By ABIGAIL E. ASSELIN Agawam High School
The number 1 killer of teens in the United States is car crashes.
Many teenagers tend to think that they are invincible, especially when they are with a group of friends, driving to a movie theater or to a mall.
According to information gathered by the Allstate Foundation, it is estimated that 5,000 teens die every year in car crashes. This is roughly 14 teens a day.
Speeding and driver error are cited most often as reasons for these crashes.
The site also says the risk of getting into a fatal car crash increases with the number of teen passengers in the car.
It is estimated that 62 percent of teenage passenger deaths in 2006, occurred in vehicles driven by a teen.
Also, two thirds of teens who die in car crashes have failed to buckle up.
Interestingly, the foundation reports most teens think they are safe drivers but say 62 percent of their peers tend to be aggressive drivers. Yet, most teens say they would not speak up if they felt unsafe while someone else is driving.
Hand held cell phones are a distraction in all drivers' hands and there have been a number of deadly crashes involving teens who try to text while driving.
It is estimated that 1.6 million teens drive while either reading or texting and that 56 percent of teens use a cell phone while driving.
Allstate recently sponsored a contest for high school journalists interested in promoting safe driving.
For information on their upcoming Act Out Loud contest as well as tips on safe driving, visit their Web site, www.keepthedrive.com