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AAA research shows teens take more risks when driving with other teens in their cars.

Peer passengers add to teen safety risks

Research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows that risky behavior by teen drivers (ages 16 and 17) grew as the number of teen passengers increased. With motor vehicle crashes ranking as the leading cause of death for teens, AAA Washington calls for greater parental involvement and stronger intermediate driver’s licensing legislation to promote road safety.

According to the data

The prevalance of speeding among teens with no other teens in the car was 30 percent. This rate jumped to 44 percent when teen drivers had two teen passengers and 48 percent with three or more other teens in the vehicle.

Similarly, the prevalence of late-night driving (11 p.m. to 5 a.m.) increased from 17 percent with no other teens in the car to 22 percent with two teen passengers and 28 percent with three or more teen passengers.

The prevalence of alcohol use also increased—from 13 percent with no other teens in the vehicle to 17 percent with two teens in the vehicle and 18 percent with three or more teen passengers.

“Mixing young drivers with teen passengers can have dangerous consequences,” says Dave Overstreet, public affairs director for AAA Washington. “AAA urges parents to set and consistently enforce family rules that limit newly licensed teens from driving with young passengers.”

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety analyzed data on fatal crashes that occurred in the United States from 2005 through 2010. The report documents the prevalence of passengers ages 13-19 in fatal crashes involving drivers age 16 and 17, and examines the characteristics of those crashes according to age, gender and number of teen passengers present.

Visit the AAA Keys2Drive website for a wealth of resources to help teach your teens how to become responsible motorists.

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Packing Tips

Learn how to maximize the space in your carry-on and about cool new travel gear in these fun workshops led by Kathleen Collum, AAA travel store buyer and manager.

AAA Renton
May 8, at 10 am. and 1 p.m. RSVP: (425) 992-1165

AAA Lynnwood
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AAA Bellevue
May 11, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. RSVP:
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AAA Federal Way
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AAA Coeur d’Alene
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AAA Spokane Valley
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AAA Spokane Downtown
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AAA North Spokane
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AAA Yakima
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AAA Wenatchee
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AAA Redmond
June 18, at 6 p.m. RSVP: (425) 556-1847.

AAA Issaquah
June 19, at 6 p.m. RSVP: (425) 369-2609.

AAA West Seattle
June 22, at 11 a.m. RSVP: (206) 933-4106.

AAA Tacoma
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AAA Olympia
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AAA Bremerton
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AAA Mount Vernon
May 2, at 6 p.m. RSVP: (360) 848-2090.

AAA Redmond
May 7, at 6 p.m. RSVP: (425) 556-1847.

AAA Issaquah
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AAA Seattle
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AAA Bellingham
May 14, at 6 p.m. RSVP: (360) 752-6575.

AAA Everett
May 15, at 6 p.m. RSVP: (425) 438-2232.

Saturday Hours

Five AAA offices are now open on Saturdays, 10 a.m. –5 p.m., in addition to their weekday hours: Bellevue, Mill Creek, Spokane North, Tacoma and West Seattle.

Click here for more information on locations and hours for AAA offices throughout Washington and northern Idaho.

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