Teen drivers face ’100 Deadliest Days of Summer’ on the road

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - Memorial Day marked the unofficial start of summer and the beginning of what safety experts call the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer” for teen drivers — a period that runs through Labor Day.

AAA said car crashes involving teen deaths spike during this period. Traffic crashes are the main cause of death for teens between 16 and 19 years old. For every mile driven, new teen drivers are three times more likely to be involved in a deadly crash compared to adults.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said nearly half of teen driver-related deaths happen during the 100 deadliest days. AAA said risk factors include distracted driving and driving with other teens. NHTSA said the chance of dying directly relates to the number of teens in the car. Other risks include speeding and not wearing a seatbelt.

Greg Mangan, who owns Drive 4 Life Academy, said teens driving in unfamiliar places can cause them to crash.

“They’re running off to Dollywood. They’re going here, they’re going there, and they’re in the car a lot more,” Mangan said. “You know, when school takes up eight hours of their day, they’re not driving. In the summer, they’re driving to work, they’re driving to a friend’s house. They’re going, like I said, they’re going to theme parks, they’re going to Soaky Mountain. Wherever they’re going is a place they’re not used to going.”

He added that students have more free time in the summer months which leads to more teens on the roads.

“When school takes up eight hours of their day, they’re not driving. In the summer, they’re driving to work, they’re driving to a friend’s house,” Mangan said.

Mangan said parents play a big part in educating their teens on driving. He said sometimes teens pick up bad habits from their parents, adding that if the parent speeds, the teen is going to speed. He said parents should sit down with their teen before they start driving and discuss good driving habits.

Mangan said starting a driving agreement can help make sure teens stay safe on the road. If teens start acting up and driving incorrectly, parents can step in and take away the keys.