100 Deadliest Days

Summer may be halfway over, but there are still more than 50 days left of the most dangerous time of year for new teen drivers, ages 16-17.

As we enter the mid-point for the what American Automobile Association of Kansas (AAA Kansas) calls the “100 deadliest Days,” the Kansas Department of Transportation wants to remind drivers of all ages that fatal teen crashes are on the rise. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, (NHTSA) in 2015, the number of teen drivers involved in fatal crashes increased by more than 10 percent from the previous year.

One of the starkest nationwide trends that AAA Kansas found was new teen drivers are three times more likely than adults to be involved in a crash.

KDOT’s crash data says that drivers between the ages of 15-19 years old were involved in 11,348 crashes in 2015. Of those crashes, there were 2,732 injuries and 40 teen casualties.

According to AAA, three main factors contribute to these crashes:

Distracted Driving: Not paying attention to the road ahead is a huge contributing factor in teen crashes. According to AAA, 6 out of 10 crashes were the result of distracted driving.  The main distractions for teen drivers are talking with friends and using their cell phones while driving.

Not Using a Seat Belt: Teens who use their seatbelts are more likely to reduce their risk of being seriously injured or dying in a car crash. According to the latest data, 60 percent of teens who were killed in a car crash were not buckled up.

Speeding: Driving over the speed limit was a factor in nearly 30 percent of fatal teen crashes.

There are many ways that we can encourage inexperienced drivers to travel safely.

Talk about safe driving: Simply talking about how to stay safe behind the wheel can be one of the best ways to ensure a young driver remembers key safety tips.

Lead by example: Drivers of all ages should remember that they are being observed by teens and kids who will one day take to the road in vehicles of their own. Experienced drivers should minimize risky behavior while driving, so novice drivers can learn what being safe behind the wheel looks like. Parents or guardians, create a parent-teen driving agreement like this one from AAA Kansas, that sets family rules for teen drivers.

If every driver practiced safe driving skills while behind the wheel, the 100 Deadliest Days could be the 100 Safest Days for teen drivers.

Tire Safety in the Summer

Summer is a great time for traveling.  It’s important to maintain safe tires to ensure safe travels, and having the right tire type for the summer months is essential.
There are three types of tires: snow/winter, summer and all-season. Be mindful of what type of tire is on your vehicle to ensure proper motor care.

Summer tires are a great option for safe and efficient driving in the warmer months. 

• The tread on summer tires offers smooth and soundless rides in dry or wet environments.
• Summer tires also have harder compound then snow tires which gives them a good grip in dry and wet weather conditions.

All-season tires are a great option for those in moderate climates

• They can be used for all driving conditions
• Provides traction in regular winter driving conditions but not as well as snow tires, which should be used in severe winter weather operates well in warmer weather but with less grip then a summer tire.

 
Research and find out what tires work best and offer the most comfortable and long-lasting rides to carry you through all your summer travels.
 

Another important aspect of summer tire safety is maintaining one’s tires through proper tire care.

Here are a few tips for motorists on keeping tires in their best traveling condition:

Check Tire Air Pressure

• An important aspect of tire safety is checking the air pressure of your tires and making sure all tires are properly inflated. The pressure of each tire should be checked at least once a month, depending on frequency of travel. 
• To check the pressure of your tire, remove tire cap and press a tire gauge on it, there may be a slight puff of air, read the air pressure number and then secure the cap on again.

Check the Wear on Tread

• To examine the tread on your tires for wear use an upside-down penny and place it between the tire grooves. If the top of Lincoln’s head is showing then it means the tread is worn and it’s time to replace your tires.

 

The penny test: The top of Lincoln's head is slightly covered by the tread on this tire.
The tread is then considered to be in good condition.

Wheel Rotation

• Rotating your tires regularly ensures that the tire rubber won’t wear out as quickly. Always be mindful of the condition of tires and make sure the rubber on the tires is safe and stable.

Check out the video below on some great summer driving tips.

  
Keep a Spare Tire in Your Car

• Always keep a spare tire in your car in case of potential flat tires. To maintain safety when changing tires, it’s important to educate yourself on how-to properly change flat tires along roadside.
• Things you’ll need are, a spare tire, lug wrench, jack and bricks or rocks. To see how a tire is changed, check out the video below.

If you are stuck on the side of the road and need additional help, contact Motorist Assist, which is a program dedicated to helping motorist stranded on roadways. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, The Motorist Assistance Program covers four metro areas in Kansas: Kansas City, Topeka, Wichita and Salina. KDOT supports this program, and both agencies work together to prevent additional travel impediments, as a result of roadside emergencies, and keep travelers safe.

 Each service vehicle is staffed by a Kansas Highway Patrol civilian employee. You can contact the Motorist Assist Program by dialing *47 to reach the Kansas Highway Patrol *KTA (582) while on the Kansas Turnpike

Remember to give all emergency vehicles and workers room. Move over or slow down when you see flashing lights or sirens.