Wayne, N.J., June 3, 2022 — Nationwide, 7.124 people died in crashes involving teen drivers between 2011 and 2020 during the “100 Deadliest Days,” the hazardous summer months between Memorial Day and Labor Day. That’s more than seven people a day each summer. Last year, deaths increased by nearly 20 percent over 2019, with 850 people killed in teen-involved crashes across the country.
In New Jersey, 87 people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers during the “100 Deadliest Days” from 2011 to 2020.
“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 Robert Sinclair Jr., Senior Manager of Public Affairs for AAA Northeast. “So what can be done? We can encourage teens to double-down on staying focused when driving, buckling up for every ride, and driving within posted speed limits.
It’s never too soon to educate teens on the dangers of driving under the influence of marijuana and alcohol. But actions speak louder than words. Remember to model good behavior because your teen won’t take your advice seriously if you don’t follow it yourself,” continued Sinclair.
Due to their inexperience, teen drivers are at a higher risk of crashes. According to the AAA Foundation 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 in the past 30 days:
- Driving 10 mph over the speed limit on a residential street (47%)
- Driving 15 mph over the speed limit on a freeway (40%)
- Texting (35%)
- Red-light running (32%)
- Aggressive driving (31%)
- Drowsy driving (25%)
- Driving without a seatbelt (17%)
To keep roads safer this summer, AAA encourages parents to:
- Always buckle up
- Refrain from driving impaired
- Put your phone away on focus on the task of driving
- Follow posted speed limits