AAA is warning drivers about the “100 Deadliest Days” — the stretch between Memorial Day and Labor Day when teen driver crashes spike. Nationwide, a third of all deadly crashes involving teen drivers happen during the summer.
In Ohio last year, teens were involved in nearly 9,000 crashes during that period — 30 were fatal.
Experts say more unsupervised driving and distracted behavior are key factors. AAA urges parents to model safe habits, use tools like “Do Not Disturb” mode, and get teens into driver education programs.
“Summer months are particularly dangerous as more young drivers hit the road during school breaks with many logging more unsupervised driving time than usual,” said Jake Nelson, Director of Traffic Safety Advocacy and Research at AAA. “We encourage families to take advantage of AAA resources like our driver education classes and parent-teen safe driving agreements to help set clear expectations for driving privileges.”
Tips for all drivers for a safe summer:
- buckle up, every seat and every time.
- obey speed limits
- focus on the road, put phones and other electronic devices away, and
- do not drive impaired.
With teens out of school, summer is also a great time for young drivers to complete a comprehensive driver education course to learn the rules of the road.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety also has new research highlighting the life-saving potential of smartphone-blocking technology. Parents should encourage teens to use “do not disturb” features on their phones to silence distractions while driving.
