'100 deadliest days': Teen driver deaths jump in summer months

Crash data reveals concerning seasonal patterns as teen driving deaths continue to climb

By AAA of Western and Central New York

Across the country, 13,135 people have been killed in a crash involving a teen driver between 2019-23. Over 30% of those deaths occurred during the “100 deadliest days” between Memorial Day and Labor Day, according to a AAA review of crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NTHSA). On average, 8 people are killed per day in teen-involved driving crashes in the summer, compared to 7 per day during the rest of the year.

In 2023 alone, the most recent year of complete crash data, 2,897 people were killed in crashes involving a teen driver. A third of those deaths, 860, happened during the “100 deadliest days” – a 21% increase from 2022. In New York, NHTSA reports 16 deaths in crashes with teen drivers during the “100 deadliest days” in 2023 compared to 48 the rest of the year. New York State Police report a 13% increase in overall motor vehicle fatalities during the “100 deadliest days” from 2023 to 2024.

AAA teamed up with area police agencies and elected officials across Western and Central New York to raise awareness of traffic safety as Memorial Day kicked off the “100 Deadliest Days” for teen drivers.

“Summer months are particularly dangerous as more young drivers hit the road during school breaks with many logging more unsupervised driving time than usual,” said Jake Nelson, director of traffic safety advocacy and research at AAA. “We encourage families to take advantage of AAA resources like our driver education classes and parent-teen safe driving agreements to help set clear expectations for driving privileges.”

There are steps teens and parents can take to save lives. Parents should model safe driving behavior and talk with their teens about buckling up, obeying speed limits, and putting phones away. With teens out of school, summer is also a great time for young drivers to complete a comprehensive driver education course to learn the rules of the road.

“Young drivers in high school and college look forward to the summer season and await newfound freedom with a break from school,” said Mike Formanowicz, driver training manager at AAA Western and Central New York. “AAA urges parents to talk to their young drivers about traffic safety and serve as good role models as well.”

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety also has new research highlighting the life-saving potential of smartphone-blocking technology. Parents should encourage teens to use “do not disturb” features on their phones to silence distractions while driving.

Due to their inexperience, teen drivers are at a higher risk of crashes. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety Culture Index, about 72% of teen drivers aged 16-18 admitted to having engaged in at least one of the following risky behaviors:

√ Driving 10 mph over the speed limit on a residential street (47%)

√ Texting (35%)

√ Red-light running (32%)

√ Aggressive driving (31%)

√ Drowsy driving (25%)

√ Driving without a seatbelt (17%)

√ Driving 15 mph over the speed limit on a freeway (40%)

With teens out of school, summer is a great time for young drivers to complete a comprehensive driver education course to learn the rules of the road.

Families can also make a parent-teen driving agreement setting family rules for driving.

More about the AAA Foundation

Established in 1947 by AAA, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a nonprofit, publicly funded 501(c)(3) charitable research and educational organization. The AAA Foundation’s mission is to prevent traffic deaths and injuries by researching their causes and by educating the public about strategies to prevent crashes and reduce injuries when they do occur. This research informs the development of educational materials for drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists and other road users. 

As upstate New York’s largest member services organization, AAA Western and Central New York provides more than 866,000 members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1900, AAA has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. Visit AAA at www.AAA.com.