AAA: Summer’s ‘100 deadliest days’ bring spike in fatal teen-driver crashes
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Memorial Day marks the start of the summer driving season, and AAA finds that the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are the “100 deadliest days,” when fatal crashes involving teen drivers spike. To encourage safer choices during this high-travel period, AAA is urging drivers to commit to “100 Days of Safe Driving” between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
According to a AAA review of national and Oregon crash data, more than 30% of fatal crashes involving teen drivers occur between Memorial Day and Labor Day. By making smart choices behind the wheel, such as putting mobile phones out of reach, following posted speed limits, buckling up, and planning ahead for a sober ride, drivers can help make summer roads safer for everyone.
Nationwide, 7,805 people died in summertime crashes involving teen drivers from 2015 through 2024. That’s seven people per day during these 100 days, with a total of 781 people dying each summer. During the rest of the year, 17,460 people were killed in crashes involving a teen driver. This means nearly 33% of fatal crashes involving teen drivers occurred during the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
In Oregon, 96 people died in crashes involving teen drivers during the “100 deadliest days” in this 10-year period, while 175 people died in these crashes during the rest of the year. In all, nearly 39% of crashes in Oregon involving teen drivers occurred during the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day. In Oregon, the yearly average of people killed in crashes involving teen drivers from 2015 through 2024 between Memorial Day and Labor Day is 10, compared to an average of 18 the rest of the year.
In 2024, the most recent year of complete crash data, 2,636 people were killed nationwide in crashes involving a teen driver. Nearly a third of those deaths (31%), 825, happened in the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day. In Oregon in 2024, 36 people were killed in crashes involving a teen driver. Nearly half of those deaths (47%), 17, occurred in the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Find data here.
For 2024, Oregon ranks 24th in the country for most per-capita crash fatalities involving teen drivers with more than 8 deaths in crashes involving teen drivers per one million population. Find the complete list here.
Mississippi has the highest per-capita deaths in crashes involving teen drivers with 70 deaths in 2024. Rhode Island has the lowest per-capita deaths with 2 people killed in crashes involving teen drivers in 2024.
“Summer brings a spike in fatal crashes involving teen drivers because teens are more likely to drive without an adult in the vehicle as they head to jobs or spend time with friends. Teens’ inexperience behind the wheel puts them at greater risk, and previous research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows that having teen passengers in the car can raise that risk even more,” says Marie Dodds, public affairs director for AAA Oregon/Idaho.
“It’s important to remember that the people killed in these crashes are not always teen drivers. Victims can include their passengers, people in other vehicles, bicyclists, pedestrians, and others sharing the road. In short, all road users are at risk,” adds Dodds.
AAA advice for safe summer driving
AAA encourages teens to build safe driving habits by limiting distractions, obeying speed limits, buckling up, and never driving impaired.
Parents also play a key role in keeping their teens safe behind the wheel.
Studies show that teen drivers become safer behind the wheel if they receive instruction by a trained professional and receive ongoing support and coaching from their parents. Visit AAA Exchange – Teen Driver Safety
- Talk with teens early and often about safe driving behaviors including wearing seatbelts, staying focused and complying with speed limits.
- Talk with teens about dangerous behaviors behind the wheel, such as speeding, impairment and distracted driving.
- Have your teen complete a comprehensive driver education course.
- Establish a parent-teen driving agreement that sets family rules for teen drivers.
- Have at least 50 hours of supervised practice driving with your teen.
- Drive with your teen in different settings. Take different routes, drive in different weather conditions, and take various types of roadways, such as neighborhood streets, urban areas, highways and freeways with your teens so they get experience in a wide variety of driving situations.
- Ensure your teen drives a safe vehicle that provides excellent crash protection and modern driving assistance technologies.
Parents also need to be good role models. Teens will often emulate what they see their parents do behind the wheel so set a good example!
- Always wear your seat belt.
- Comply with traffic laws.
- Put your phone away while driving.
- Watch your speed.
- Never drive impaired
- Don’t tailgate.
- Use your turn signals.
- Don’t drive when angry or tired.
- AAA and MADD urge anyone who plans to drink or use impairing substances to plan ahead for a sober ride before going out.
“Teens really do want their parents’ involvement in the learning-to-drive process. Sure, many teens will roll their eyes at you when you try to have conversations about safe driving. But teens do want to learn from their parents, so teach them about the risks of things like not wearing seatbelts, speeding, distracted and impaired driving, and aggressive driving. Tell them it’s up to each driver to keep our roads safe,” says Dodds.
