In Michigan and nationwide, teen driver-related deaths during the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer between Memorial Day and Labor Day account for nearly 50% of all teen driver-related fatalities for the entire year, according to AAA.
Significantly, teen drivers who are 16-17 years old are 3 times as likely to be in a fatal crash as an adult driver.
The top safe-driving tips for your teen drivers this summer are: (1) keep your eyes on the road; (2) don’t drive under the influence; (3) stay alert; (4) no teen passengers for teen drivers; (5) obey the speed limit; and (6) wear your seatbelt.
Summer is also an excellent time to have a serious discussion with your teen about the importance of making good choices and keeping themselves and others safe on the road.
As a parent, you should lead by example, spend at least 50 hours practicing with them, teach them defensive driving skills, and consider signing a parent-teen driving agreement.
Following these tips will help keep your teen driver and others safe during this years 100 Deadliest Days of Summer in Michigan!
100 Deadliest Days of Summer for teen drivers in Michigan
Consider these statistics as we approach the 100 Deadliest Days between Memorial Day and Labor Day in Michigan:
- In Michigan, on average, 63 teen drivers are involved in fatal crashes every year, with 23 occurring during the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer, according to AAA.
- These crashes result in an average of 68 total deaths per year, with 25 occurring during the 100 Deadliest Days (AAA)
- 32% of fatal crashes involving drivers 15-20 years of age in Michigan in 2022 occurred during the 100 Deadliest Days (Michigan Traffic Crash Facts)
- 35.1% of fatal crashes involving drivers 15-20 years of age in Michigan in 2021 occurred during the 100 Deadliest Days (Michigan Traffic Crash Facts)
- 40.3% of fatal crashes involving drivers 15-20 years of age in Michigan in 2020 occurred during the 100 Deadliest Days (Michigan Traffic Crash Facts)
- 31.5% of fatal crashes involving drivers 15-20 years of age in Michigan in 2019 occurred during the 100 Deadliest Days (Michigan Traffic Crash Facts)
Combatting the 100 Deadliest Days for all drivers in Michigan
The 100 Deadliest Days of summer between Memorial Day and Labor Day are also a more dangerous time for all drivers in Michigan.
Looking at statistics over the last four years reveals that:
- In 2022, 32.9% of fatal crashes involving drivers of all ages in Michigan occurred during the 100 Deadliest Days (Michigan Traffic Crash Facts)
- In 2021, 31.3% of fatal crashes involving drivers of all ages in Michigan occurred during the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer (Michigan Traffic Crash Facts)
- In 2020, 40.6% of fatal crashes involving drivers of all ages in Michigan occurred during the 100 Deadliest Days (Michigan Traffic Crash Facts)
- In 2019, 30.4% of fatal crashes involving drivers of all ages in Michigan in 2019 occurred during the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer (Michigan Traffic Crash Facts)
Right now is an excellent time to remind all drivers to be sober and vigilant while driving this summer.
Tips to prevent fatal car crashes and save lives in Michigan during the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer
Here are the top tips for preventing fatal car crashes and saving lives:
- Keep your eyes on the road – Texting drivers are 23 times more likely to crash. Drivers who are dialing a handheld cell phone are 12 times more likely to crash. (Virginia Tech Transportation Institute) And research shows that “[d]riving while talking on cell phones – handheld and hands-free – increases risk of injury and property damage crashes fourfold.” (National Safety Council) According to AAA, “Distraction plays a role in nearly six out of ten teen crashes.”
- Don’t drive under the influence – Drivers with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05 to 0.079 are 7 times more likely to be in a fatal crash and 6 to 17 times more likely to be killed than sober drivers. (MADD, Studies on the Effectiveness of .05 BAC)
- Stay alert – Drowsy driving is as dangerous as drunk driving. And teen drivers are at the highest risk. (AAA)
- No teenager passengers for teen drivers – A fatal crash is more likely to occur when a teen driver has teenager passengers in the car, according to AAA. Additionally, teen drivers are likely to drive less safely the more teen passengers they have in their vehicle, according to NHTSA.
- Obey the speed limit – Excessive speed was a factor in 19.9% of all car accident fatalities in Michigan in 2022. (Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, 2022, Fact Sheets, “Speeding”) According to AAA, “Speeding is a factor in nearly 30 percent of fatal crashes involving teen drivers.”
- Wear your seat belt – Wearing a seat belt in the front seat of a car or light truck (such as a pickup or SUV) reduces your risk of dying in a crash by 45% and 60%, respectively, according to NHTSA. It will also reduce your chances of serious injury by 50% and 65%, respectively.
Attorney Brandon Hewitt discusses with WZZM and provides safety tips for teen drivers
Michigan Auto Law attorney Brandon Hewitt talked with WZZM 13 of Grand Rapids about how the stretch of summer between Memorial Day and Labor Day has become the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer for teen drivers.
“The three biggest factors we see for teen drivers [are] speeding, amazingly, not buckling up . . . you would think that issue would be resolved by now . . . and, also, distracted driving,” Attorney Brandon Hewitt told WZZM. “Thirty percent of the crashes involving fatalities in Michigan are during these months.”
Focusing on the danger presented by speeding, Brandon urged teen drivers to be particularly careful when driving in Northern Michigan due to the increases in highway speed limits from 70 mph to 75 mph in recent years:
“It doesn’t sound like a whole lot, 70 to 75. But it’s shown that your ability to react and stop a crash, just at that 5 mph increase, can be pretty serious and people don’t really realize how fast and how far your car is moving at those speeds. Even at 55 mph, your car is moving a football field in 3 to 5 seconds. That’s what studies show. That’s how long it takes to send a three-word text message. So for anywhere from 3 to 5 seconds, your eyes are away from the road . . . you’ve moved a football field. And that’s plenty of time to cause a serious crash.”
To see Brandon’s full interview with WZZM on the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer, check out the video below.
Advice for parents of teen drivers
Michigan parents should consider the following safe-driving tips top of mind during the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer to keep their teens (and others) safe:
- Lead by example – Your teens are always watching and often imitating you. So, during the 100 Deadlies Days of Summer in Michigan, set a good example by wearing your seatbelt, driving the speed limit, being alert at all times. Your example will shape your child’s driving behaviors even before they learn how to drive.
- Spend at least 50 hours practicing with your teen driver – Before they start driving alone, spend the time to help them develop good skills and habits. Let them drive in a variety of conditions so they’re prepared for anything. This will help them become safer and more confident drivers.
- Teach “defensive driving” – Always be on the lookout for potential hazards, and share advice for handling challenging situations.
- Consider a parent-teen driving agreement – This will create the consistency and boundaries teen drivers need. Let them know when they can drive, where they can go, and with whom. Be sure to include well-defined consequences for breaking the rules.
Injured in a car accident during the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer in Michigan? Call our attorneys now for a free consultation!
If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident during the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer, call Michigan Auto Law now (855) 781-7747 for a free consultation with an experienced car accident lawyer near you. There is no cost or obligation. You can also visit our contact page or use the chat feature on our website.
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