Plymouth Police Officer Chris Brody choked up Wednesday as he talked about being the first emergency official on the scene of the most horrific crash of his 23-year police career. There, he found teen occupants of a crushed Chevy Cobalt on the ground, bleeding and screaming, and one of five trapped passengers “in dire need of help.” The 17-year-old in the front seat, Vincent M. Cammarata, later died, and Brody had to break the news to the teen’s father.
Although the horror of the July 2017 crash in Plymouth was a first for Brody, such crashes involving teen drivers are far too common this time of year in Connecticut and beyond, says the AAA, which has dubbed the time from Memorial Day to autumn the “100 Deadliest Days.” The organization invited Brody, other officers and state troopers, transportation officials and parents who lost teens in wrecks to a press conference Wednesday about teen driver safety at its West Hartford offices.
Why call the summertime deadly in Connecticut?
Over the last five years, more than 40 people in the state were killed in summer crashes involving teen drivers. Last summer alone, 12 died, the AAA said.
None of the teen drivers involved in last summer’s fatal collisions died, AAA’s Amy Parmenter said. Rather, it was their passengers — often their friends — people in other cars and pedestrians who lost their lives.
“So this is a time period where everyone is at increased risk,” Parmenter said.
Why do these teens crash?
Teens lack experience behind the wheel. They think they’re invincible and they push the limits — especially the speed limit. Speed is a factor in many crashes involving teen drivers, and crashes are more likely to happen at night, according to AAA. Sometimes, young drivers pick up bad habits behind the wheel from adults, experts say.
What can parents do?
First, said Michael Bzdyra, commissioner of the state Department of Motor Vehicles, “Put your cellphone away, too.”
“When you get in the car, turn your cellphone off and put it in your glove compartment,” he said.
In general, said Jennifer Shorette, director of AAA’s driving school, “Set the example. Minimize your own risky behavior.”
Don’t assume teens practice the safe driving habits they learned in driver’s ed. School resource officers have told her they are shocked to see how many students pull into high school parking lots without their seat belts on, she said.
As Tom Maziarz of the state Department of Transportation put it, “We need to tell teens to wear a seat belt, never speed and never drive distracted or impaired.”
And parents shouldn’t stop talking to their teens about safe driving after they hit the road for the first time, Shorette said. They should continue to reinforce the concept in later years.
Are there any talking points to get the conversation started?
The AAA has a Parent-Teen Driving Agreement online at: http://teendriving.aaa.com/CT/
