By Christy Pearce, Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments
School is out for the summer, and that means teen drivers are hitting the road more often. With car crashes as the leading cause of death for teens, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see why the 100 days from Memorial Day to Labor Day are often dubbed, “The 100 Deadliest Days.” In fact, teens are 20% more likely to be involved in a fatal crash during the summer months than during the rest of the year.
Mom First
I may be a roadway safety presenter, but first and foremost, I’m a mom of teens. And I’ll admit, I probably think about the risks and quiet tragedies hidden along Missouri’s rural roads way more than the average person.
I have a 17-year-old with barely a year of driving experience under her belt and a son reaching permit age in January who is ready to jump in the driver’s seat. Some days, I find myself wondering why couldn’t he have been born in a nice, warm, snow and ice free month?
Ultimately, no matter when our kids were born, the goals of a parent don’t change. We just want our teens to stay safe, especially when they are behind the wheel.
Summer Sets the Stage for Increased Driving Risks
Summer increases freedom for teens, but it also increases the risks on the road:
—More driving: School’s out, so teens spend more time behind the wheel, often at night and with more passengers in their vehicles, even though drivers aged 16-18 holding their Graduated Driver’s License should have no more than one passenger under 19 who is not immediate family during their first six months and no more than three passengers under 19 until they get their first driver’s license.
—Higher crash risk: Teens are nearly three times more likely to crash per mile driven.
—Distraction: About 60% of teen crashes involve distractions like phones, food, or friends.
—Speed and fatigue: Later nights and busy schedules increase risky behaviors, and teens holding their GDL may not drive alone between 1 am and 5 am except to and from a school activity, job, or for an emergency, unless accompanied by a licensed driver 21 years or older.
The good news? These risks are well-known and preventable.
Flipping the Script from “Deadliest” to “Safest”
Parents, caregivers, and educators play a role in flipping the script to help shape safer teen driving outcomes. Research consistently shows that teens involved in fewer risky behaviors and fewer crashes have parents who set clear rules, model safe driving, and talk openly about expectations. And remember, it is never too late to start the conversation.
For parents, it’s easy to feel like control slips through our fingers once our kiddos jump in the driver’s seat. But the truth is, influence doesn’t disappear, it changes.
Encouraging simple, consistent safe habits like these can make a measurable difference:
—Limiting passengers, especially during the first year of driving. Besides, it’s the law.
—Setting firm expectations around phone free and distraction free driving.
—Insisting on seat belt use for every trip for all vehicle occupants. Seat belts reduce the risk of death by 45% and serious injury by 50%.
—Encouraging rest before driving and recognizing the dangers of drowsy driving.
—Making it clear that calling home for a ride is always safer than driving impaired or riding with someone who is.
This summer, “The 100 Deadliest Days” doesn’t have to be the end of the story. That’s why the Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments Roadway Safety Team and organizations like the National Roadway Safety Foundation are reframing the conversation, challenging communities to turn these months into the 100 Safest Days.
The NRSF 100 Safest Days of Summer Pledge gives families a tangible way to start these conversations and to put shared expectations into writing, not as a punishment, but as a partnership. You can take the pledge at the NRSF website.
These next 100 days can be safe and we can really make a difference. Remember, it all starts with our influence.
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