Summer is the time for most people to kick back and relax a little – but safety never takes any time off.
The period from May 27 to September 2 this year has the dubious distinction of being known as “the 100 Deadliest Days” of the year. That’s because of the sharp uptick in fatal motor vehicle accidents involving teen drivers that occur annually between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
What causes the surge in fatal traffic accidents among teen drivers?
Research indicates that there’s a combination of factors in play that contribute to the problem:
- Many teen drivers are still very inexperienced. Whether they got their license in the middle of winter or a few weeks before, they often have had very little solo driving time by the time summer starts. That leaves them less prepared to handle sudden situations involving traffic.
- There’s more driving, with less focus. During the school year, teens are usually on tight schedules. They don’t have a lot of time to drive to and from leisure activities nor just for the sheer joy of it. In the summer, they can freely hit the road, but that increased driving activity also increases the chances of a wreck.
- They have other teens in the car (and that’s distracting). Fatality rates go up 51% when teens drive with only teenage passengers in their cars – which indicates that other teens are basically distracting. In general, the emotional immaturity that all teens share can be compounded when teens get together, and that can lead to devastating consequences.
If you’re concerned about your teen driver this summer, sit down and talk about the situation. Explain your concerns, set some boundaries about where they can drive (and who can be in the car) and extract a pledge that they’ll be cautious, keep their seatbelt on and avoid speeding.
If your teen driver is in an accident, however, don’t assume they’re necessarily at fault. Legal guidance can help you understand your teen’s options after a crash.