Summer Is Dangerous for Teen Drivers—What Parents Can Do

Parents often joke about their teens being a “hazard on the road,” but fatal motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens. In 2023, it accounted for nearly 50% of all teen deaths between the ages of 15-24. The fatal crash rate for 16- to 19-year-old drivers is almost three times higher than that of drivers 20 and older. 

Summertime proves the highest risk. The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is known as the “100 Deadliest Days” for teen drivers. Given these harrowing statistics, it’s time to stop dismissing teen accidents as a rite of passage. 

Luckily, there are ways for parents to better safeguard their young drivers. It starts with understanding why teens can be a risk on the road and then putting safety measures in place.

Why Teens Are at Greater Risk for Car Accidents

Although a teen’s motor skills may be developed enough to obtain a driver’s license, their judgment behind the wheel is often a work in progress. Teenagers are “wired to be bolder and underestimate risk because of their emotional immaturity, social pressures, and an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex,” says Vikas Keshri, MSW, RSW, a psychotherapist based in Toronto.

Because the prefrontal cortex (responsible for decision-making) doesn’t finish developing and maturing until the mid-to-late 20s, teens are often associated with various risky behaviors. These behaviors include speeding, tailgating, distracted driving (often from technology, music, or passengers), driving under the influence of substances, and inconsistent seat belt use. 

Teens often lack the skills to make quick judgment calls, too, which can be exacerbated by sleep deprivation and high emotions, such as stress, anxiety, peer influence, Keshri shares. 

How To Help Teens Stay Safe on the Road

Parents can help their teens stay safer on the road. Keshri suggests parents set a strict technology curfew at night for distraction-free sleep. They should also encourage them to make box breathing a routine to calm their nervous system before driving. That involves inhaling through your nose while counting to four, holding your breath on a count of four, and then exhaling for the same amount.

These proactive measures can help to minimize risks, but there’s more parents can do. 

Create a parent-teen driving contract 

A parent-teen contract establishes expectations and teaches teens that “driving is a privilege, not a right,” says Keshri, while considering the teen’s wishes, as it’s an agreement, not just a set of instructions. 

Some ideas for a contract include: general driving rules, vehicle responsibilities (who pays the maintenance costs and insurance?), passenger restrictions, curfew, weather-related driving conditions, and communication (i.e., how often a teen needs to inform parents of whereabouts). 

A contract should have clear, specific consequences for violations, including loss of driving privileges or restrictions. 

Model safe driving habits

Parents need to model good driving behavior. Keshri suggests creating routines in the car that center around distraction-free driving, like switching your phone to Car Mode. 

Maria Wojtczak, co-founder of DrivingMBA, a nationally-recognized driving school based in Arizona, agrees, adding, “If you don’t want your teen on the phone while driving, then you should stay off the phone as well.”

Consider limiting passengers and nighttime driving 

In Australia, a targeted law banned first-year drivers from driving at night with multiple peers—a situation that accounted for one-fifth of the country’s traffic fatalities. A 2024 study found that this initiative more than halved the targeted crashes, casualties, and deaths among Australian first-year drivers.

It also had positive spillover effects, including fewer early evening crashes and a sustained reduction in high-risk driving overall. 

Wojtczak encourages parents to have their teen drive solo for the first year after obtaining a license. This can be beneficial during the “100 Deadliest Days,” when teens are more prone to staying out late with peers. 

Focus on the car

Operating a safe vehicle is another important factor to keep in mind. A new study from Nationwide Children’s Hospital, published in JAMA Network Open, found teens were more likely to drive cars older than 15 years and with fewer driver assistance technologies.

The study reported cars that were 6 to 15 years old had a 19% greater chance of driver death in a crash, while cars older than 15 years had a 31% increased risk. This was compared to driving cars 5 years old or newer. The driver’s age did not matter. Additionally, each driver assistance technology installed reduced the chance of a fatal crash by 6%.

Researchers advise parents to prioritize safety features and driver assistance technologies in the vehicle their teen drives. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) offers a list of safe cars. Of course, buying a new car may not be an option. In that case, the researchers urge more frequent maintenance to improve the safety of the car.

Try safe driving courses 

A driver training class can help your teen gain confidence by practicing their skills in a safe environment. Wojtczak says her classes focus on hazard recognition, vehicle handling, speed, and space management to “allow students to experience situations, make mistakes and learn from those mistakes.” 

When choosing a driving school, she recommends visiting the school, asking questions, and making an informed decision.

Establish open, nonjudgmental communication

If a teen makes a mistake behind the wheel, Keshri says to remain calm and engage in conversation with them at eye level. Inform them they aren’t in trouble and that you’ve made mistakes while driving, too, and you just want to listen to their side of the story. 

When parents validate their teens’ experiences without immediately offering solutions or criticism, they create a more trusting, open relationship. 

Be patient and try to enjoy the process

Wojtczak says everyone learns to drive at their own pace, so it’s important not to emphasize “eligibility” but readiness. 

Soon, your teen will be an adult, and you won’t get that time back. Wojtczak encourages parents not to view teaching their teen to drive as a chore but as an opportunity to spend 1:1 time with them.