Fact Sheet
100 Deadliest Days
- Summer is sun, barbecues, beach and vacation. It’s also a deadly time to be a teen driver. Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of the 100 Deadliest Days of driving for teens.
- Teen crash deaths increase by 15 percent between Memorial Day and Labor Day, compared with other times of the year.
- The spike in deaths makes a bad reality worse: motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of unintentional death for young people ages 16-25 in Washington.
- Young drivers face an increased crash risk due to both their inexperience and immaturity. Studies show that young drivers, who are just learning to drive, lack the skills and experience necessary to recognize and respond to risk appropriately.
- Additionally, studies also recognize age-related immaturity as a key factor in dangerous decision-making on the road.
By the Numbers
- 32% of traffic fatalities involved young drivers between 2012 and 2014, even though they comprise only 13% of licensed drivers in Washington.
- 57% of fatal crashes with a young driver included impairment as a factor (2012-2014).
- Twice as many male drivers 16–25 years of age in particular are more than twice as likely to be impaired in fatal crashes as compared to men aged 36–45.
- 60% of high school seniors reported riding in the car with a driver who was texting (2016).
- 44% The chances of a young driver (16 or 17) being killed in a crash when they have a passenger under the age of 21 with them increases 44% per mile driven (2012).
Summer Safety
Take action to make this summer safe. Here are steps parents can take:
5 Rules
Parents should insist their driving teens adhere to 5 rules while driving:
- No cell phone
- No extra passengers
- No speeding
- No alcohol or drugs
- Buckle up
Download the Washington Department of Licensing Parent’s Guide to Teen Driving
This comprehensive guide is a great resource for parents with teen drivers. The guide covers:
- Knowing and enforcing the driving laws
- Knowing the Intermediate driver license requirements and holding teens accountable to the rules
- Certifying that your teen has completed at least 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours at night
- Setting family driving rules and limits
- Talking to other parents to make sure they are enforcing the same rules with their teens
Download the Road Ready app
The app is the perfect companion to the Parent’s Guide. It provides a digital way to log required learner’s practice miles, with a social component to allowing teens to share their accomplishments with peers.
For more resources, visit http://wadrivetozero.com/
