With summer in full swing and millions of families preparing for summer vacations, summertime sees an increase in the number of drivers and passengers on U.S. roadways. Many safety experts consider the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day to be the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer. This time period has notoriously been known for an increase in automobile accidents and car accident fatalities; especially among teenage drivers.
Car Accidents Caused by Drunk Drivers
According to an article published by USA Today, the number of teens who drink and drive has decreased in the past 25 years. However, drivers 16-to-20 years old are 17 times more likely to die in a car accident when they have a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. Not surprisingly, the vast majority of car accidents involving teenagers killed are car accidents which occur on Friday and Saturday evenings. Even if the teenagers themselves have not been drinking, they are more likely to be killed in a car accident on a Friday or Saturday night because of car accidents caused by adults who are drinking and driving.
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Unfortunately, statistics gathered from 2016 found that over 1,050 people were killed in car accidents involving a teenage driver during the 100 Deadliest Days. This equates to an average of 10 people being killed in a car accident each day. This represents a 14% increase in car accident fatalities compared to any other time of year.
Dr. Scott Hadland, of Boston University School of Medicine, states, “Parents might consider limiting the extent to which young people drive during late hours on weekends.”
However, is limiting a teen’s freedom to drive a car during the summer even a possibility for parents? More than likely not, but it means that parents need to take the time to educate and inform their teen drivers about safe driving. For example, provide teen drivers with statistical information and have an open discussion. The AAA Foundation suggests honing in on 2 major topics when discussing driver safety with their teens: Nighttime Driving and Speeding.
Increased Risk for Teenagers Driving at Nighttime
- 36% of all car accident fatalities involving teenage drivers occur between 9:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m.
- 1 in 10 of all nighttime car accident fatalities involve a teenage driver
- The 100 Deadliest Days see a 22% increase in the average number of nighttime car accidents involving teenagers, per day, as compared to the rest of the year
Car Accidents Caused by Speeding
- 1 in 10 of all speed-related car accident fatalities involve a teenage driver
- 29% of all car accident deaths, involving a teen driver, were speed-related
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The 100 deadliest days of summer is not to be taken lightly by anyone – especially your loved ones. At Kaine Law, we want your family to be informed and prepared for the dangers that increased car travel can have on innocent and law abiding drivers. If you have been involved in a car accident, please contact our law office today for a free consultation. Drive safely and enjoy your summer!
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