Across the United States, 13,135 people lost their lives in crashes involving teen drivers between 2019 and 2023. According to a review by AAA of crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 30% of these fatalities occurred during the period known as the "100 Deadliest Days," which spans from Memorial Day to Labor Day. During this time, an average of eight people die daily in teen-involved driving accidents, compared to seven per day throughout the rest of the year.
In 2023 alone, there were 2,897 deaths linked to crashes with teen drivers. A third of these fatalities—860 deaths—occurred during the summer months.
"Summer months are particularly dangerous as more young drivers hit the road during school breaks with many logging more unsupervised driving time than usual," stated Jake Nelson, Director of Traffic Safety Advocacy and Research at AAA. He advised families to utilize resources such as AAA's driver education classes and parent-teen safe driving agreements to establish clear expectations for driving privileges.
There are several measures that teens and parents can take to improve safety on the roads. Parents should demonstrate safe driving habits and discuss important topics like seatbelt use, speed limits adherence, and avoiding phone distractions while driving. Summer provides an ideal opportunity for teens out of school to complete comprehensive driver education courses that teach essential road rules.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has also conducted research highlighting how smartphone-blocking technology can save lives. It is recommended that parents encourage their teens to activate "do not disturb" features on their phones while behind the wheel.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety was established in 1947 by AAA as a nonprofit organization focused on preventing traffic-related deaths and injuries through research and public education. Their mission includes developing educational materials for all road users based on thorough research into crash causes and prevention strategies.