The following was provided by AAA Michigan as an update for credit unions that currently partner with them for membership or insurance. For credit unions that are interested in joining the AAA partnership, contact a CUcorp business consultant at (800)262-6285 ext. 534.
AAA Michigan is proud to introduce its driver training program as an option for credit union organizations that partner with AAA. This program combines the most current AAA driver training research, training materials and skilled staff with credit unions to create a co-branded program that is highly valued and desired by teen members along with mature members and corporate clients.
A first-ever analysis from AAA finds that crashes involving teen drivers ages 15 to 17 cost America more than $34 billion annually in medical expenses, lost work, property damage, quality of life loss and other related costs in 2006.
According to a March 2008 report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), when teenage drivers transport passengers, there is a greatly increased crash risk, with greater risk associated with more passengers. When there are multiple passengers, the crash risk is three to five times greater.
The risk is greater for drivers who are 16 or 17. The study sponsored by NHTSA found that in California, Massachusetts and Virginia, passenger restrictions reduced crashes among 16-year-old drivers. Crash involvement per 1,000, 16 year-old drivers fell from 1.07 to 0.85 in California after passenger restrictions were passed. The reduction was from 0.88 to 0.61 in Massachusetts and from 1.41 to 1.10 in Virginia.
In Michigan, there are currently no passenger limits in place.
“Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of teens, claiming more than 6,000 15- to 20-year-olds each year,” said Jack Peet, AAA Michigan community safety services manager. “Many of these deadly crashes are due to immaturity and inexperience – factors that can be partially addressed by helping teens gain valuable driving experience in a low-risk learning environment.”
A low-risk learning environment includes:
- Minimizing distractions such as teen passengers, cell phones, MP3 players or CDs;
- Driving during the daytime when crash and fatality rates are lower for teens and drivers of all ages;
- Providing positive driving role models through parents who exhibit safe driving behaviors such as obeying speed limits, not driving while distracted, refraining from drinking and driving and being courteous to other drivers.
AAA has been a leading advocate of driver training for over 80 years, conducting the country’s first driver training classes in 1933. Four years later, AAA published the first driver training textbook, and has since been a leader in driver education and research. The program currently offered by AAA, “License to Learn,” specifically addresses the reasons teens crash, and utilizes learning techniques to reduce teen crashes.
AAA is also the leader in driver improvement courses for mature and corporate clients with a progressive, innovative curriculum for a wide variety of programs.
AAA Michigan offers novice, mature and driver improvement training in a number of locations in Michigan and has been growing annually as opportunities to support the community and AAA partners in providing driving courses present themselves.
For more information on any of these programs, contact Sandra Maxwell at (313) 336-0535, or sjmaxwell@aaamichigan.com.
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Regulatory Affairs
