A stretch of Interstate 635 is the most dangerous North Texas road for teenage drivers.
Allstate Insurance says state data shows that Interstate 635 in Dallas County had more car crashes involving teen drivers than any other roadway in North Texas in a five-year period.
Between traffic and construction, Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway can be a nightmare for even experienced drivers.
"The speed difference from one lane to the next can be great," said Chad Henry of 1-2-3 Driving School in Plano. "When young drivers go to change lanes, they simply take longer than other experienced drivers. That opening disappears quickly."
According to data from the Texas Department of Transportation, teen drivers on LBJ Freeway were involved in 1,489 crashes between 2006 and 2010, Allstate said.
"The lack of experience is what causes more accidents," said Allstate's Joseph McCormick. "The congestion, the speed, the other highways that intersect with 635 make it a really, really dangerous spot for all drivers, but teens in particular."
100 Deadliest Days for Teens Starts Monday
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Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, more teenagers are killed on the road than any other time of year.
As teenagers get behind the wheel this summer, they're being warned to keep their eyes on the road during the "100 deadliest days."
"Turn the phone off, keep the radio down, focus on the driving, focus on what's in front of you and to the side of you," said Dan Ronan of AAA Texas.
Top 10 Teen Crash Sites (2006-2010) Source: TxDOT
I-635, Dallas County 1,489
I-35 E, Dallas County 1,162
US-75, Collin County 943
SL-12, Dallas County 924
I-30, Dallas County 889
I-820, Tarrant County 838
FM 157, Tarrant County 837
I-20, Tarrant County 835
I-35E, Denton County 834
I-35W, Tarrant County 767
Statewide, Interstate 45 in Harris County had more crashes involving teens than any other Texas roadway with 3,091.
“Car crashes are the No. 1 killer of Texas teens,” said Michael Walker, an Allstate agent in Texas. “Summer is almost here, and when school is out, more teens will be hitting the highways across the state. This data should spur parents and community leaders to take action and teach our teen drivers that speeding, distractions and carelessness can be costly.”
In a study from The Allstate Foundation, almost 90 percent of teenagers surveyed said their parents are the biggest influencers on their driving habits -- so parents should start there by talking with their teen drivers about safety behind the wheel.
A news release from the Allstate Foundation recommends parents start the conversation with teens about the importance of safe driving, set guidelines and discuss consequences by downloading a parent-teen driver contract at ProtectTeenDrivers.com.
