BRIEF: July is a dangerous month for drivers, insurance group says [The Sacramento Bee, Calif.]

June 25--A national insurance think tank study shows July is typically a very dangerous month of the year for drivers, including teenagers, notably July 4, a major travel day.

In California, 241 people died during the month of July, the peak of the summer driving season, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study.

"These tragedies are compounded by the fact that many crashes are preventable," says Phil Telgenhoff, field vice president of Allstate in California. "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."

Allstate Insurance officials recommend drivers stick with a basic common sense approach to summer driving: stay focused on the road, wear seat belts, follow the speed limit.

Call The Bee'sTony Bizjak, (916) 321-1059.

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