The '100 Deadliest Days' for Teen Drivers Begins This Week

Teen drivers are most vulnerable on the roads between Memorial Day and Labor Day, according to AAA. (Getty Images)

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – The months between Memorial Day and Labor Day mark one of the most dangerous times of the year for teen drivers.

AAA says that between Memorial Day and Labor Day are the “100 Deadliest Days” where fatal crashes involving teen drivers are at their highest.

Here in Massachusetts, 167 teen drivers were involved in fatal crashes between 2013 and 2022.
National data also found that the number of teenagers involved in fatal crashes and the number of people killed in those crashes increased from 2021 to 2022.

AAA spokesperson Mark Schieldrop explained to 22News some of the main reasons for this trend.

“Distracted driving is a major problem,” Schieldrop said. “And the interesting thing about distracted driving is that we often think it means a cell phone or someone texting and driving, but in reality, another passenger is a major distraction in the vehicle, and when it comes to teen driving accidents, these other passengers are actually causing more fatal accidents than cell phone use.

Schieldrop encourages parents to talk with their teens about safe driving habits, including wearing a seat belt, obeying speed limits and traffic lights and, of course, limiting these distractions.

It is also important for parents to model safe driving behaviors on the roads and ensure their teenagers practice them.