The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day each year is a deadly time to be on the road. More than 3,500 people died in car wrecks during this span across Tennessee and the nation between 2013 and 2017, with many safety advocates and others now referring to the stretch of time as summer’s 100 Deadliest Days.
Per AAA, many fatal summertime crashes have similar elements in common, among them inexperienced teen drivers and negligent driving behaviors. Many summer crashes involving teenage drivers also take place at night. What are some of the driving behaviors that make the 100 Deadliest Days such a dangerous time to be on the road?
Factors contributing to fatal teen driver-involved crashes
A study of crash data compiled between 2013 and 2017 revealed some of the leading contributors to fatal teen driver-involved car crashes. Speed is a major contributing factor, playing a role in 28% of summertime crashes involving teen drivers. Alcohol is another common contributor, having a hand in 17% of teen driver-involved wrecks. Driver distraction is the third-most-common contributor to fatal crashes involving teen drivers, contributing to 9% of them.
Statistics concerning fatal teen driver-involved crashes
During summer’s 100 Deadliest Days, the number of crash fatalities caused by teen motorists between the ages of 15 and 18 is 17% higher than it is during the rest of the year. Between 2013 and 2017, an average of 700 people died per year in crashes involving teen drivers during the 100 Deadliest Days span.
Parents of teen drivers may be able to help protect others on the road by limiting when their teenagers drive. They may also want to forbid their teens from driving with other teens in the car until they gain more driving experience.