Memorial Day to Labor Day: Why These Are the 100 Deadliest Days for Teen Drivers

So, spring arrives. The snow melts. The robins and jays are picking through the green grass. You actually break a sweat raking up the late leaves from last year. All the people come out to enjoy the weather and want to be out right up until the snow falls again.

One of the unfortunate realities of being human is that to understand a concept, we have to understand it’s opposite. Winter and summer, light and darkness, order and chaos, joy and sorrow.

In all that hope and exuberance, a dark shadow spreads over what should be the happiest time of the year. In the US, between Memorial Day and Labor Day are the 100 deadliest days for young people to travel. If there was a concept opposite of a holiday, this could be a candidate.

During the 100 deadliest days:

• School’s out, brand new licenses, teen driving hours soar.
  
  • Nearly 50% of all teenage auto fatalities occur
• More daylight, more outings
  
  • In 2021, 900 people died on the road in teen-related crashes, a 25% increase from 2019
• Extra passengers, phones, playlists
  
  • 60% of teen crashes involved distraction
• Buckle up. Safety first!
  
  • 60% of teen drivers killed in a crash were not wearing seatbelts
• Higher speed, higher stakes
  
  • 30% of fatalities involving teen drivers showed speeding as a factor

AAA projects record breaking travel this year and expect nearly 40 million motorists over Memorial Day weekend alone. It is going to be a busy summer. Keep your head on a swivel.

For professional drivers:

• Assume inexperience. Monitor your following distance and mirrors and watch for the signs of distracted drivers.
• Mind the afternoon spike. Crashes climb from 3pm to midnight – around the time teen drivers head to summer jobs, sports, or parties.
• Careful of increased action on the shoulders – $1,000 auction cars with $1,500 dollar rims, RVs that haven't moved in years, boat trailers with decade-old tires and dry wheel bearings, you name it. The summer brings a lot of breakdowns.
• Coach when you can. A friendly horn tap or a wave. Give them some leeway.

If you're a parent (or mentor):

• Ride along reps. Check your kid’s competence before you hand over the keys. I know teaching someone to drive can be frustrating but it is better to see for yourself before turning them loose out there in the world.
• Passenger limits. Keep the carpool small. Some states require a driver under 18 to hold a provisional license for a year before being fully licensed. In MN, a provisional license limits the number of passengers under 20 before full licensure.
• Phone jail. Apps like Apple’s “Focus” or Android’s “Driving Mode” silence dopamine buzzes until the car is in park.