It is for our teenagers to become more independent as they age. One way they exercise that independence is by getting their driver’s license.
However, parents and teens should be particularly vigilant during this period, often called the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer.”
What are the 100 deadliest days?
The “100 deadliest days” is used to describe the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when the number of fatal crashes involving teen drivers spikes dramatically. There are a few factors that contribute to these statistics, such as:
- When school is out, teens have more free time to spend behind the wheel, whether heading to a summer job, social gatherings or a road trip.
- Teens are relatively new to driving and lack experience.
- Teens are more likely to become distracted while driving, such as texting, using social media, talking on the phone and interacting with passengers.
- They may be more inclined to engage in risky behaviors like speeding and reckless driving.
- Summer parties and gatherings can sometimes involve alcohol or other substances. Despite legal restrictions and the dangers, some teens may choose to drive under the influence.
To keep your teen driver safe, you should take the following steps:
- Maintain open lines of communication with your teen about the dangers of driving.
- Establish clear rules for your teen’s driving behavior. This can include curfews, limits on the number of passengers and strict no-phone policies.
- Enroll your teen in a defensive driving course so they can learn valuable skills about avoiding accidents, handling emergencies and making better driving decisions.
By educating your teen about the many causes of accidents, you are helping to eliminate the 100 deadliest days of summer. Unfortunately, even the safest teen drivers can be in a car crash. It’s essential for you and your teen to know that you can receive compensation for injuries and damage to their vehicle if a collision occurs.
