Teen Drivers: The 100 Deadliest Days Of Summer Are Here

We are officially into the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer -the most dangerous of time of the year for teenage drivers. This year, a group of nonprofits is joining forces to raise awareness of the dangers, in hopes of turning the 100 Deadliest Days for teen drivers into the "100 Safest Days."

The National Road Safety Foundation says the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day usually sees a 20% increase in teen traffic deaths versus the rest of the year.  The NRSF says new joint initiative emphasizes the critical role parents play in changing teen driver behavior, since parents are the top influencer of their teens' driving attitudes and behaviors.   

"It takes a little extra courage to remind our independence-seeking teens that too many passengers are dangerous, that their cell phones should be turned off while driving and that other distractions can be just as deadly, "said Michelle Anderson, director of operations for The National Road Safety Foundation.  "We need to explain that impaired driving is not only dangerous, but also a crime that can result in truly life-altering consequences. That's why we've joined together for this important work."

Along with the NRSF, lead organizers of the new initiative are We Save Lives and Impact Teen Drivers.   For a complete list of coalition members click here.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) also warns parents and teen drivers about the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer each year.  According to AAA data, nationwide, 6,697 people died in teen driver-related summertime crashes over a 10-year period from 2013-22.

“There are more daily deaths in crashes involving teen drivers during the summer months than the rest of the year because teens tend to have more unstructured time behind the wheel,” said Jake Nelson, AAA’s director of traffic safety advocacy and research. “So what can be done? We can encourage teens to double down on staying focused when driving, buckling up for every ride, and driving within posted speed limits.”

It's not just that teens are spending more time behind the wheel. Its also about they're driving behavior. 

"We know that when teens are joyriding as opposed to driving with a specific destination and time in mind, there is a heightened risk,” said Diana Gugliotta, Senior Manager of Public Affairs for AAA Northeast.

AAA also says the number and ages of passengers riding in teen-driven vehicles is also a factor.

“Research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows that when a teen driver has only teen passengers in their vehicle, the fatality rate for all people increased 51%,” Gugliotta said. “In contrast, when older passengers (35 or older) ride with a teen driver, overall fatality rates in crashes decreased 8%.”

AAA recommends that parents model safe driving behaviors and help ensure their teens practice them, too. AAA suggests focusing on the dangers of three factors that commonly result in deadly crashes for teen drivers:

• Distraction: Distraction plays a role in nearly six out of 10 teen crashes, four times as many as official estimates based on police reports. The top distractions for teens include talking to other passengers in the vehicle and interacting with a smartphone.
• Not Buckling Up:   According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, 52% of teen drivers killed in car crashes in 2020 weren't wearing their seatbelt. (Automakers also offer features that encourage safe driving like GM's Teen Driver feature. When activated, audio is muted until driver and passenger seat belts are fastened.)
• Speeding: Speeding is a factor in nearly 30 percent of fatal crashes involving teen drivers. A previous AAA survey of driving instructors found that speeding is one of the top three mistakes teens make when learning to drive.

You'll find more teen driver safety resources on TeenDriving.AAA.com.

Car Pro Show host Jerry Reynolds also recommends having teen drivers sign a Teen Driver Contract.