With Memorial Day marking an unofficial start to summer, many teens will soon be getting back on the road more frequently as they have time off from studying. However, summer can be an especially dangerous time for teen drivers.
According to the auto club group AAA, more than 30% of all deaths involving teen drivers occur during what the group calls the “100 Deadliest Days,” which runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
On average, AAA reports that 2,108 teens are involved in deadly crashes every year, and 660 of them occur during the 100 days, which started on Monday. The crashes result in an average of 2,341 deaths per year, with 732 of them also occurring in the 100 days.
“Summer is historically a dangerous time for teen drivers,” AAA spokesperson Adrienne Woodland said in a press release.
Among the risk factors that play a role in accidents and teens losing their lives include distracted driving, which plays a role in almost 60% of teen crashes; driving with other teenagers, something the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says is a direct relation to the increased risk in fatal crashes; speeding, which accounts for nearly 30% of fatal crashes involving teen drivers; and not wearing a seatbelt.
Woodland shared that other factors that play a role in the 100 Deadliest Days are teens being on the road driving at odd hours of the day and night.
“Because of their inexperience, teens are more susceptible to dangerous driving behaviors – like speeding, driving distracted, and not wearing a safety belt,” Woodland said. “AAA urges parents to model safe driving behavior and reinforce safe driving habits with their teen drivers to help keep them safe this summer.”
For teens ages 16 to 19, traffic crashes are the leading cause of death, and for every mile that a new teen driver drives, they are three times more likely to be involved in a deadly crash compared to adults.
But crashes can be prevented, as AAA Director of Driver Education Programs Rachel Wilson says that parents can make an impact on their teen’s safety behind the wheel if they take steps to be involved in their “learning to drive process.”
“Spend time coaching your teen while they’re behind the wheel and have a serious discussion about safety,” Wilson said.
Other tips that AAA has for parents include leading by example, being in the car with your teen for at least 50 hours, teaching defensive driving skills, and setting rules with your teen for when they get behind the wheel.
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