(WWJ) -- Every year, Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start to summer, but it’s also the beginning of something much more dangerous for young drivers.
According to AAA, nationwide statistics show that more than 30% of deaths involving teen drivers occurs during what’s referred to as the “100 Deadliest Days” - a stretch that runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
“Now that the CDC has lifted many pandemic restrictions, young adults are eager to reconnect with friends, which means young inexperienced drivers will spend more time on the roads,” AAA spokesperson Adrienne Woodland said in a statement. “This increases the chances that they’re involved in a crash, and for every mile driven, new teen drivers (ages 16-17 years old) are three times more likely to be involved in a deadly crash compared to adults.”
100 Deadliest Days statistics from 2010 - 2019
Nationwide
- Each year an average of 2,081 teen drivers are involved in fatal crashes; 636 of those (30%) occurred during the 100 deadliest days
- More than 7,000 people died in teen-related summertime crashes from 2010 to 2019
-That’s more than seven people a day each summer compared to the rest of the year (six people/day)
Michigan
-An average of 22 teen drivers are involved in fatal crashes during this time
-On average, 73 people are killed in teen driver-related crashes every year; almost 25 of those occur during the 100 deadliest days
-247 people were killed in teen driver-related crashes during the past 10 summers
Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens ages 16-19, with six teens killed each day in crashes that are completely preventable.
Teen drivers are also nearly three times more likely than drivers aged 20 and older to be killed in a crash.
The most common risk factors that lead to teen traffic crashes include driving with passengers, driving at night, not wearing a seatbelt, speeding, distracted driving, drowsy driving, and impaired driving.
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