The 14 weeks from Memorial Day to Labor Day have earned the grim title of the 100 Deadliest Days for teens. With teenage drivers spending more time on the roadways while school is out, traffic fatalities skyrocket during the summer.
Car accidents are a leading cause of death for American teens, with 2,883 fatalities in 2022. And, during the 100 Deadliest Days, teens are involved in 43% more fatal crashes than they are during the rest of the year.
What makes this period so dangerous? And what can we do to make the 100 Deadliest Days safer?
What Makes the 100 Deadliest Days So Dangerous?
There are several reasons why teen fatalities increase during the 100 Deadliest Days:
The inexperience of teen drivers. Teenage drivers are almost three times as likely as older drivers to get in a car accident (based on miles driven, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety). The risk is the highest for 16-17-year-olds.
Distracted driving. According to the 2022 Teen Distracted Driver Data from the NHTSA, 7% of teenage driving deaths come from distracted driving. This includes using phones, talking to passengers, and eating or drinking.
Speeding. 2022 data from the NSC shows that 35% of male teen drivers involved in fatal crashes were speeding. Of female drivers involved in fatal crashes, 19% were speeding.
Drunk driving. Even though the national drinking age is 21, teens still drink and drive. The NSC also reported that 27% of 15- to 20-year-old drivers involved in fatal crashes had alcohol in their systems at the time of the accident.
What You Can Do to Make the 100 Deadliest Days Safer
The good news is that there are many ways to make the roads safer during the busy summer season. Since the 100 Deadliest Days typically refers to teen drivers, we’re going to focus our safety tips on teens and their parents. But anyone can be a safer driver with these tips!
Driver Safety Tips for Teens
Make sure your teens follow these safety tips when they're on their own:
Remember what you learned in driver’s ed. Follow the speed limit, pay attention to all road signs and traffic signals, and don’t follow the car in front of you too closely.
Always wear your seatbelt. The CDC reports that seatbelts reduce the risk of death and jury by about half.
Don’t drink and drive. Ever. Not only is it illegal as a teen, but it's completely irresponsible as well.
Get plenty of rest before getting behind the wheel. Every year, around 328,000 drowsy driving accidents occur annually, resulting in over 109,000 injuries, and around 6,400 were fatal.
Focus on the road. Minimizing your distractions will make this a lot easier! Put down your cell phone and tell your passengers not to distract you.
Driver Safety Tips for Parents
Set an example for your teens and teach them the proper way to drive with these tips:
Talk to your teens. Explain the seriousness of the 100 Deadliest Days, and make sure your teen understands the rules (number of passengers allowed, curfew, zero-tolerance on texting while driving, etc).
Model good driving behavior. You know children do what you do, not what you say. So teach them to be good drivers by being a good driver yourself.
Consider a defensive driving course. Did you know that hands at “10 and 2” is no longer considered the proper driving position? Safe driving recommendations may have changed since you completed driver’s ed. A refresher with up-to-date driving techniques will make you a safer driver and a better example to young drivers.
Stay Safe During the 100 Deadliest Days
The 100 Deadliest Days are a scary time for teens, parents, and everyone else sharing the road. But with a few precautions, we can all do our parts to make the roads safer this summer. Another way to learn some additional safety tips as a teen is by signing up for a defensive driving course. Our 100% online course will teach you crucial driving skills to keep you safe.
Updated 8/5/24
