Each year, Indiana’s roadways see an influx of teenage drivers traveling them once schools across the state let out for the summer. The stretch of time between Memorial Day and Labor Day each year has become a particularly hazardous time to be on the road, with teen driver-involved crashes spiking sharply during this time.
Per AAA Newsroom, the period that falls between Memorial Day and Labor Day has become so dangerous that it has become known as summer’s 100 Deadliest Days. More than 8,300 people died in crashes involving teen drivers during 100 Deadliest Day periods between 2008 and 2018, with 243 people dying in these crashes in Indiana in the past 10 years.
Contributing factors
There are a number of reasons why teen-involved car crashes spike during the summertime. For starters, teens are spending more time behind the wheel in the summer. They may also be navigating unfamiliar areas of the roadway, rather than a route to and from school that they already know. Teens are also more prone to driving at night, driving under the influence and driving with passengers during the summer months. All these variables contribute to crash risks.
Safety tips
Parents of teen motorists may be able to help enhance roadway safety by making their kids undergo at least 50 hours of supervised driving time before driving on their own. Teaching teen drivers about the risks associated with drunk driving and distracted driving may also enhance roadway safety.
Parents may also want to exercise care when driving with their teens in the vehicle and model the same behaviors they want their teens to emulate.
