Many parents of teens know about the “100 deadliest days of the year.” That’s the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day that is especially deadly for teens. In fact, the crash fatality rate is about 43% higher for teens during these months than it is during the rest of the year.
Of course, teens aren’t the only ones killed and injured in these crashes. That’s why it’s crucial for all drivers to recognize the dangers that make this time so dangerous on the road.
More teens are on the move
A key reason for the rise in deadly crashes is that most teens are out of school and likely to be driving to the beach, the pool, shopping centers, movies and work. That means these relatively new drivers are probably traveling farther and on different routes than their usual drive between home and school.
They may be traveling on highways for the first time or have more passengers than they’re used to (even if it’s prohibited under the state’s Graduated Driver Licensing Law (GDL). The majority of teen fatalities aren’t the drivers, but the passengers. The New York State Department of Health has found that the “largest proportion of passengers killed or injured in vehicles with drivers ages 16-17 were their peers, ages 16-17.”
This period also includes three major drinking holidays – Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. That combination of drivers (of all ages) who have been drinking, are on vacation in unfamiliar areas and who may be dehydrated from the sun and heat can be deadly.
This is certainly not a problem unique to New York. No matter where you travel this summer, you’ll likely find fairly inexperienced teen drivers on the road as well as a lot of careless, distracted and impaired drivers of all ages. While driving safely and being aware of your surroundings can help you stay safe, it can’t prevent all crashes.
Teen drivers are typically covered by their parents’ insurance policies, so it’s important to seek the maximum possible compensation for your medical bills and other expenses and damages, regardless of who the at-fault driver is. Having legal guidance can help.