Summer’s “100 Deadliest Days” a dangerous time to be on the road

When you hit the road in Louisiana during the summer months, your odds of encountering teen drivers increase considerably, as many drivers in this age group are out of school for the summer and therefore more likely to be on the state’s roadways. At the law firm of Lee M. Schwalben, M.D., J.D., LLC, we understand that teen driver-involved automotive fatalities rise considerably during the summer months, and we have helped many people who experienced injuries or lost loved ones in teen driver-involved car wrecks seek recourse.

Per AAA, the stretch of time between Memorial Day and Labor Day is so dangerous that the span has become known as the “100 Deadliest Days.” In 2016, about 10 people died in roadway wrecks involving teenage drivers every day during this period. In total, more than 1,050 individuals lost their lives in car crashes involving teen drivers during the span, which is a 14% jump when compared with the rest of the year.

Just what is it about teen drivers that make them such significant highway hazards? Part of what makes teen drivers so dangerous is that they, through little fault of their own, have minimal driving experience. This can make it tougher for them to avoid crashes or foresee dangerous circumstances and respond accordingly.

Other factors that make teen drivers particularly dangerous result from poor decision-making. For example, many teen drivers speed, and so much so that 29% of teen driver-involved road fatalities result from crashes where speed was a factor. Other teenage drivers use alcohol or drugs before getting behind the wheel, while others, yet, drive fatigued or distracted, which can also increase their odds of causing a car crash. You can find out more about motor vehicle crashes on our website.