The 100 Deadliest Days for Teen Drivers

Summer is usually an exciting time for teens to enjoy a carefree break from the stress and pressure of school. It is usually the season for celebrations; proms, graduations and summer vacations. For teenage drivers, it is usually the perfect time to get into the car and have some fun! However, it is that way of thinking that makes these next 100 days so dangerous for teens every year and especially this year.

NYS schools are officially closed for the remainder of the academic year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and teens have been at home, learning remotely and social distancing for over 2 months. Therefore, many more teen drivers will be tempted to get out on the roads.

With more teens driving, parents need to remember that motor vehicle crashes are still the leading cause of death and injury for teens. Memorial Day Weekend kicks off what has been dubbed “the 100 Deadliest Days for Teens”. The 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are historically among the deadliest for teen drivers, a time when the number of teen driving-related injuries and deaths increase dramatically. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration attributes the higher crash rates for teens to having more free time, less adult supervision and more opportunities to drive at night with their friends.

Parents can play a vital role in reducing the risk of a teen car crash by taking advantage of the extra time they have at home, and speaking with their teens about driving safety. Parents should not take anything for granted, make no assumptions, and expect the unexpected when it comes to their teens’ driving behaviors. This is a crucial time for education, awareness and smart decision making.

Keep your teen driver safe by:

• Limiting on how much they drive in high-risk situations( at night, on weekends, in bad weather)
• Limiting the number of passengers permitted in the car
• Prohibiting alcohol or other drug use
• Banning use of cell phones and all other electronics devices
• Making sure that seatbelts are always worn by the driver and all passengers

Parents are the most important influence on their teen when it comes to risky behaviors and driving. Be a positive role model for your teen driver. It’s hard to convince your teen driver to engage in safe driving practices, like wearing a seat belt, obeying the speed limit or turning off the cell phone, if you are not also demonstrating these behaviors. Please continue to practice social distancing to keep your family healthy and safe during the COVID -19 crisis, and help keep your teen driver safe on the roads by following these suggestions.

A Message from Wendy Tepfer
Director of the Community Parent Center