What Are the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer?
June 8, 2022
The 100 Deadliest Days of Summer refers to the time period between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The leading cause of death for teenagers is motor vehicle crashes. When school lets out, the rate of fatal car accidents for teenagers increases by 26 percent during these summer days. This increase, coupled with the fact that teenage drivers have the highest crash rate of any age group, is a cause for grave concern. Teen-related crashes affect not only teenage drivers but also their passengers, everyone in the vehicles on the road around them, and pedestrians and cyclists.
What Are Common Causes of Teen-Related Car Accidents?
- Distracted driving: Anything that takes a driver’s attention away from the road is a distraction, including eating and drinking, making phone calls and texting, putting on makeup, and using navigation or entertainment systems. You might assume that teenage drivers are always busy checking their cellphones, but other passengers are a top distraction for teenagers.
- Inexperience: As the youngest group of drivers, teenagers are the most inexperienced and prone to making mistakes. More teenage drivers are on the roads in summer because school is out.
- Speeding: As teens gain driving experience and confidence, they are more apt to speed over the posted limit. This leaves less time to react to unexpected obstacles or make emergency maneuvers.
- Failure to use a seat belt: According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, almost half of the teens who died in crashes in 2018 were not wearing a seat belt. Seatbelts reduce injuries and death in the event of an accident.
What Can Parents Do to Protect Teenagers?
Both parents and teenagers need to be aware that the risk of fatal accidents increases during the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer. If you have a teenage driver in your family, take some time to sit down together and review good driving habits. It may have been a while since your teenager’s last driving class, and it is always a good idea to reinforce safe driving behaviors.
Set rules for using the family vehicle, such as curfews, who can be a passenger, and talk about who pays for gas, maintenance, and insurance. Writing everything down can make your expectations clear to your teenager and the consequences for breaking the rules.
Remind teenagers that underage drinking is against the law and could affect future college applications and job opportunities. Tell your teenager that if they find themselves in a situation where they do not want to get in a car with someone who has been drinking or using drugs, you will get them, no questions asked.
The best thing parents can do is lead by example. Set cellphones aside when driving, follow the road rules, buckle up, and allow plenty of time to get to your destination so you will not have to speed. Be courteous to other drivers. Positive reinforcement and guidance for teenage drivers can help keep road users safe during the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer.
Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer at Nerenberg Law Associates, P.C. Provides Experienced Legal Representation to Injured Drivers
The rate of car accidents increases during the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer. If you have been seriously injured due to another driver’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Speak with our Philadelphia car accident lawyer at Nerenberg Law Associates, P.C. today. Call us at 215-569-9100 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia, we proudly serve clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.