Each year between Memorial Day and Labor Day, car crashes involving teen drivers increase across Louisiana and the rest of the nation. The number of people dying in crashes involving teenage motorists also increases during this time. It does so so much that many now refer to this stretch of time as summer’s 100 Deadliest Days.
Per AAA Newsroom, more than seven people per day die on the nation’s roads during the 100 Deadliest Days period. Many of them die after crashes with teenage motorists, many of which are the result of impaired driving, driver distraction and other dangerous behind-the-wheel behaviors.
Statistics on summertime teen-involved crashes
More than 7,000 people died across the United States during the 100 Deadliest Day stretches that took place between 2010 and 2019. Many of those fatal crashes involved teenage drivers who were either 16 or 17 and inexperienced behind the wheel. Research shows that drivers who are 16 and 17 are three times as likely as older motorists to find themselves involved in a fatal crash.
Top causes of summertime teen-involved crashes
While driver inexperience contributes to many car wrecks involving teenage drivers, other factors also play a role in many such crashes. Speed is a major one, factoring into almost 30% of fatal teen driver-involved car wrecks. Driver distraction is another big one, contributing to six out of every 10 crashes involving teen drivers.
Parents of teenage drivers may be able to help reduce summertime traffic deaths by modeling good driving behaviors, limiting when and with whom their teens may drive, and educating them about risks.
