Safety Tips for Teens During the 'Deadliest 100 Days' of Summer

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — For most teens, summer is a time filled with fun and relaxation, but for those who have their licenses, it can also mean potential distractions while driving.

Elizabeth Carey, public relations director for AAA, said that because of their inexperience, teen drivers are at higher risk of crashes, especially during what is known as the “100 Deadliest Days.” “, that is to say between Memorial and Labor Day.

“If we look at a period of 10 years, almost 6,700 people [are] killed across the country by teenage drivers, just in the summer,” Carey said.

According to AAA, in New York state, 13 people were killed in crashes involving teenagers during the summer of 2022.

A total of 151 people were killed in crashes involving teenagers during the “Deadliest 100 Days” over a 10-year period beginning in 2013, representing an average of 15 deaths per summer in New State. York.

“It’s an increase we see every year,” Carey said. “The young drivers here who are trying to enjoy the summer, they are walking around with this newfound freedom and unfortunately, the consequences can be deadly.”

“Driving comes with many responsibilities, financial, moral, etc.,” said Sam Dalfonso, a driving instructor for more than 50 years. “A single accident can wipe out your entire family. »

News 4 spoke with people who work with the younger generation every day. They said teens should take certain steps to stay safe this summer.

Alan Holmes of Holmes Driving School in Buffalo has been a driving instructor for over 24 years.

“Stay focused and watch where you’re going,” Holmes said. “Look ahead, look ahead on the road and start in your car putting on your seat belt, your mirrors, adjusting them – your car should fit like a glove. So when you get in a car, adjust your seat, adjust your mirrors, get comfortable.

Dalfonso echoed Holmes' advice, saying that driving is technical, but teens need to be mentally prepared to travel on wheels.

“The physical skills needed to drive a car are learned very easily,” he said. “Mental competence takes practice.”

“It’s not going to happen right away,” Holmes said. “This is why it is important for parents to enroll their children in driver training. »

Dalfonso said most modern cars come with driver-assist technologies like lane departure and blind-spot warnings, but teens can't let that become a crutch.

“The technology is there to help you, but at the end of the day, you’re the driver,” Dalfonso said. “You are responsible for yourself, your passengers and the people around you.”

“If you know in your heart that your friend is not a safe driver, don’t get in a car with a dangerous driver,” Holmes concluded. “I don’t care if it’s your girlfriend, your boyfriend – if you feel uncomfortable, we have several ways to get home now.”

For experienced drivers, Holmes and Dalfonso recommend that if there is a young driver on the road this summer, give them more time and space to get comfortable behind the wheel.

Help us be a solution, not a cause, of teen accidents, they said.