Authorities warn of dangers facing teens behind the wheel during '100 Deadliest Days'

Now that school is out for most area students, AAA officials are urging caution among teen drivers during a period it calls “the 100 deadliest days” of the year.

“Traffic accidents remain a leading cause of death among U.S. teens ages 16 to 19,” said Morgan Dean, spokesperson for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “Teenagers often have a lot of unstructured time in the summer, but lack the experience and skills of older drivers. These factors can often have deadly consequences on the road. »

The 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day saw nearly 6,700 deaths in crashes involving teen driving between 2013 and 2022, almost half of the total deaths from all teen-related crashes behind the wheel during these years. In 2022, 707 people were killed in accidents involving teenagers, an increase of 10% compared to 2019.

“Parents remain the best line of defense in keeping everyone safe behind the wheel,” said Michael Belcuore, manager of driver education for AAA Club Alliance. “It's never too early for parents to talk to their children about the dangers of distracted driving, speeding and impairment by alcohol and marijuana. But, and this is an important point, they must also adopt good driving behavior themselves.

These include staying focused while driving, buckling up, not texting or using a phone while driving, and obeying speed limits, among other actions.