SALEM, Ore. -- The Fourth of July may be a time for celebration, but it’s also the deadliest day for teen drivers in Oregon, according to crash data from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety.
Teens account for close to 10 percent of Fourth of July driving fatalities and are particularly susceptible to distractions such as texting when behind the wheel, said Shauna McBride, a spokesperson for Allstate.
“These tragedies are compounded by the fact that many crashes are preventable,” McBride said. “Driver error, speeding and distractions are the main causes of crashes, and seemingly simple activities such as switching radio stations or interacting with friends can significantly impair a teen’s or adult’s ability to react quickly to changing traffic conditions.”
According to a recent report, more than 800 people were killed in the U.S. on July 4 between 2006 and 2010. In Oregon, 39 drivers lost their lives in July due to fatal car crashes making it one of the deadliest months on the road.
Officials urge Oregonians to do their part in making roads safer during the Independence Day holiday. They urge parents to talk to teens early and often when it comes to distracted driving.
For more information about distracted driving visit the X the TXT facebook page.
