By Joanna Putman
Police1
WASHINGTON — The 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day is known to be the most dangerous days of the year for teen drivers, earning the title of the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer.”
Recent research by driver education resource Zutobi provides an in-depth analysis of factors contributing to teen driving fatalities, including DUI, speeding and distracted driving. The study ranks states from most to least deaths per 100,000 teen drivers and examines historical data and safety initiatives.
While young driver road deaths have been steadily decreasing since 1982, there was a sharp increase in fatalities during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a 19.5% rise in young driver and passenger fatalities in 2020 compared to the previous year, according to the report. In 2022, 3,082 people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers aged 15 to 20, a slight decrease from the 3,211 fatalities in 2021. This figure remains significantly high, with a 19.4% increase compared to the pre-pandemic year of 2019.
Alcohol consumption remains a major factor in teenage traffic fatalities, according to the report. In 2022, 632 teen drivers died in DUI crashes, up from 588 in 2021. Speeding also contributes significantly to teen fatalities, with 1,826 teen drivers losing their lives in speeding-related crashes in 2022. Distracted driving, another leading cause, resulted in 296 teen deaths in 2022, according to the report.
Seat belt use is alarmingly low among teen drivers, with 50% of those who died in 2022 being unbuckled, according to the report. When the driver was unbuckled, nine out of ten passengers who died were also unbuckled.
In terms of state rankings, Kentucky has the highest rate of teenage driving fatalities for the third consecutive year, with 71.42 deaths per 100,000 teenage drivers. Wyoming follows with 59.34, then Arkansas with 45.80, New Mexico with 45.02, Mississippi with 39.60, Maine with 38.25, Montana with 38.14, Louisiana with 37.87, Arizona with 36.41 and North Carolina with 36.12. In contrast, states with the lowest teen fatality rates include Rhode Island with 8.18 deaths per 100,000 teen drivers, New Jersey with 8.33, Minnesota with 9.81 and Wisconsin with 10.91.
Studies indicate that inexperience and risk-taking behaviors are primary causes of teen driving accidents. Lucas Waldenback, co-founder of Zutobi, advocates for new educational approaches to engage and educate young drivers effectively.
“Teenage drivers need more than just textbook knowledge; they need interactive and innovative education that explains and engages,” Waldenback, co-founder of Zutobi, a leading EdTech company in driver’s education. “We must keep pace with the times, incorporating methods like videos, gamification and simulations to truly teach and inspire.”