Summer is one of the most dangerous times of the year for teen drivers. The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) refers to the period from Memorial Day (the last Monday in May) through Labor Day (the first Monday in September) as the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer,” when traffic fatalities and serious crashes historically increase.
During this time, many teens spend more hours behind the wheel for summer jobs, activities, and social events. With limited driving experience and developing decision-making skills, teen drivers face a higher risk of preventable crashes.
According to OTS, 451 California drivers ages 15 to 20 were involved in traffic crashes in 2024. Nationwide, distracted-driving crashes resulted in 3,208 deaths in 2024, including 186 teens ages 15 to 19.
Dr. Deborah Hsiung, a pediatrician and road safety advocate, emphasized that families play an important role in helping teens develop safe driving habits. She encouraged parents to discuss the dangers of distracted driving, speeding, impaired driving, and drowsy driving, while setting clear rules and expectations for young drivers.
Experts also recommend limiting nighttime driving and the number of teen passengers in the vehicle. Studies show that drivers ages 16 and 17 carrying two or more teen passengers are twice as likely to die in a crash compared with driving alone.
California’s provisional licensing law helps reduce risks for new drivers by limiting activities such as late-night driving and transporting passengers under age 20. These restrictions can reduce teen crash risk by as much as 50%.
“Most traffic crashes are preventable,” Hsiung said. “Families and communities can help young drivers stay safe by building responsible driving habits.”
Families looking for additional teen driver safety resources can learn more through organizations such as Speak Up 4 Safety (www.speakup4safety.org), Impact Teen Drivers (www.impactteendrivers.org/tcs/), and Stop 4 Aidan (www.stop4aidan.org).
