We wrote earlier this week about the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer and the driving behaviors we can all keep in mind to reduce the risks of being involved in a serious traffic collision. Our car accident lawyers in Fort Myers and Cape Coral also reminded parents that teen drivers are at highest risk. And we urged you to take special care to talk to the teens in your family about the importance of practicing the key safe-driving habits – avoid distraction, obey the law, never drive intoxicated, and take special care around vulnerable road users like motorcyclists, bicycle riders, and walkers – each time they get behind the wheel.

But the high risks faced by teens each summer is worth a full discussion. Already at the highest risk on the road, teenagers are more likely to be killed in a traffic accident between Memorial Day and Labor Day than at any other time of year. The freedom that comes with summer, parents who relax restrictions and expectations, and traveling with other young passengers, are all among the leading risk factors.

Keeping our Teens Safe on The Roads of SWFL

Summer is the deadliest time of the year for young motorists, particularly the stretch between Memorial Day and Labor Day, which safety advocates call the “100 Deadliest Days” of the year on the roads.

Nationwide, more than 7,000 people died in teen driving-related summertime crashes from 2010 to 2019. According to previous research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, new teen drivers ages 16-17 are three times as likely as adults to be involved in a deadly crash.

“There are more daily deaths in crashes involving teen drivers during the summer months than the rest of the year because teens tend to have more unstructured time behind the wheel,” said Jake Nelson, AAA’s director of traffic safety advocacy and research.

Our car accident attorneys in Fort Myers and Cape Coral know these can be tragic cases, with victims often being friends or relatives of the at-fault driver. Serious injuries, multiple parties, and numerous factors of causation can make these cases among the most complex handled by an experienced law firm. Such tragedies forever mark lives. We encourage you to take the risks seriously, lay ground rules, and talk frequently with the young drivers in your household.

Articles Tagged with teen safe driving

Summer Teen Safe Driving Tips

Keeping our Teens Safe on The Roads of SWFL

Beware: “100 Deadliest Days” for Teen Drivers