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(253) 272-5226The 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are known as the “100 Deadliest Days” for teen drivers. On average, 8 people are killed per day in a teen-involved crash during this period, compared to 7 people per day during the rest of the year.
More freedom, more opportunities to drive, and lack of experience behind the wheel can create a perfect storm for serious accidents.
Let’s take a closer look at why this time of year is so dangerous and what parents and teens can do to stay safer on the road this summer.
The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day has long been referred to as the 100 Deadliest Days for teen drivers by traffic safety organizations.
With school out for summer, teens often spend more time behind the wheel. This can include more recreational driving, nighttime driving, road trips, and time spent driving with friends in the car.
Consider some of these stats, provided by the National Road Safety Foundation and AAA:
While teen driving safety matters year-round, summer is an especially important time to revisit safe driving habits.
There are several factors that can contribute to increased teen-involved crashes during the 100 Deadliest Days. Some are directly related to conditions that are more common during the summer months.
While this list isn’t exhaustive, here are a few factors that may increase crash risks between June and August.
Inexperience Behind the Wheel
Teens are still building critical driving experience. During the summer, they may encounter situations they haven’t handled very often yet, including heavy traffic, highway driving, construction zones, and unfamiliar routes.
More Time Spent Driving
Summer months provide more reasons to hit the road, and on routes that may be less familiar. Summer jobs, road trips, social outings, and other activities may mean your teen is putting in far more miles than they did on a typical school day.
More Teen Passengers
Summer activities also increase the likelihood of multiple teen passengers riding together. Studies have consistently shown that crash risk increases as the number of teen passengers in a vehicle increases.
Peak Construction and Work Zone Season
In Washington State, road construction tends to peak during the summer months. That means your teen may encounter more lane shifts, work zones, traffic congestion, and roadside workers.
There are three driving behaviors that consistently increase the risk of serious and fatal crashes — no matter the driver’s age or the time of year. During the 100 Deadliest Days, these risks can become even more dangerous for inexperienced drivers.
Speeding reduces the amount of time a driver has to react and increases crash severity.
Distraction is a factor in many teen crashes and can include cell phone use, texting, multitasking, adjusting music or GPS, or simply interacting with passengers.
Even though the legal drinking age in Washington State is 21, impaired driving remains a serious concern among teen drivers. In 2022, 30% of 15-20 year old drivers who were killed in crashes had BACs of at least .01 g/dL.
Safer teen driving starts with awareness, communication, and strong family support. There are several steps parents can take to help keep teens safer on the road this summer.
It’s also important to keep communication open with your teen. Encourage occasional check-ins, discuss peer pressure, and reinforce zero-tolerance rules for alcohol and impaired driving. Ongoing conversations can make a real difference.
If you need a refresher, here are a few important Washington teen driving laws parents should know about.
Washington’s intermediate license laws place restrictions on teen drivers under 18. These restrictions include limits on the number of teen passengers and curfews. Repeated violations can lead to license suspension.
Washington State prohibits drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving except in emergencies. For teens with intermediate licenses, the law is even stricter. They can’t use wireless devices while driving at all — including hands-free use — except to report an emergency. Repeated violations may result in license suspension.
Washington State law requires drivers and passengers to wear seat belts.
We cover this topic in more detail in our post about Washington State teen driving laws.
Parents can sometimes be held financially responsible for accidents caused by their teen drivers. Beyond insurance and financial consequences, there can also be a significant emotional toll when a serious accident occurs.
If you genuinely do not feel your teen is ready to drive safely, it’s okay to wait before handing over the keys. For more information on this topic, see our post on parental liability and teen-related crashes.
If you’ve been injured in an accident and want to speak with a lawyer at no cost, please reach out to the Ladenburg Law Injury Attorneys. Call us at (253) 272-5226 or fill out the short form on our website and we’ll be in touch.