WSET.com - ABC13Teen Traffic Deaths Increase in 2012

Teen Traffic Deaths Increase in 2012

Reporter: Sally Delta

Lynchburg, VA - So far in 2012, 11 teenagers have died on Virginia roads. That's triple the number from this time last year.

Those numbers come from a report released Thursday by the traffic safety group Youth of Virginia Speak Out.

Groups like YOVASO are trying to do something about it.

"By far the hardest thing in law enforcement is to go tell someone their loved one is not coming home, especially if it's a child," said Ronnie Sitler, with the Lynchburg Police Department.

Sitler has already broken that news twice this year.

On January 6, 17-year-olds Stacia Anderson and Breanna Boyd died in a wreck on Mayflower Drive.

"She overcorrected due to excessive speed," said Sitler.

Speeding has been the common thread that killed all three Central Virginia teens this year, including Zachary Parsons in Franklin County.

According to the recent YOVASO report, speed and distraction are the most prevalent in this year's crash reports.

To stop this alarming trend, YOVASO suggests to raise awareness, and there are a number of ways to spread it.

E.C. Glass high school is taking part by leaving a wrecked car outside as a reminder to kids who pass it every day of just how dangerous driving can be.

The report suggests more conventional ways of prevention like asking parents to talk with their teens about the increase in fatalities and having consequences if they're caught texting and driving or not wearing their seat belt, and continuing to practice driving skills even after they have their license.

"Let the your kids drive on the weekends, and then maybe you can pick up on the habits whether they're speeding or playing with the radio and hopefully parents can correct it before we have something tragic," said Sitler.