Accident prevention: The 100 deadliest days for teens | PEMCO

You’ve probably already heard it before…teen drivers face higher risks on the road, especially during the summer months. Parents and guardians play a critical role in helping reduce those risks. 

The combination of driving inexperience, phones, and energetic teen passengers can create a dangerous mix of distractions. And during the summer, those risks increase. 

The “100 Deadliest Days” refers to the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when teens are more likely to be involved in a fatal crash. It’s not fun to think about, but it’s important to understand so you can help teens make safer choices. 

If you remember only one thing from this article, it’s this: 

The number of teen passengers in a young driver’s car is directly related to the risk of a crash.  

The National Safety Council (NSC) says having a young passenger in the car increases a teen driver’s fatal crash risk by 44%. A classic study from AAA used dashcam footage to analyze the moments before teen crashes and identified top distractors: 15% involved loud or rowdy conversations, 12% involved phone use, and 11% involved looking at or fiddling with something in the car. 

That’s why prevention matters, especially now. 

Why is summer so dangerous for teen drivers? 

You’d think warmer months, with long daylight hours and mostly dry roads, would be the safest time to drive. But summer also brings new challenges. 

Events like prom, graduation, social gatherings, and trips on unfamiliar or narrow rural roads put new drivers in situations they may not be fully prepared to handle. 

Teens are 17% more likely to be involved in a fatal crash during the 100 Deadliest Days than at other times of the year, according to AAA. And while teens make up just 3.6% of drivers, they account for 9.1% of all crashes and 6.1% of fatal crashes. 

As a parent or guardian, your guidance and your expectations can help close that gap. 

How can you practice prevention with your teen driver? 

The most effective approach is layering prevention strategies—combining rules, guidance, and tools to reduce risk from multiple angles. 

Start by reinforcing your state’s teen driving laws (here’s a review of restrictions in Washington and Oregon). Then, consider adding these parent-led strategies: 

Limit teen passengers 

State laws limit young passengers during the first six months of licensing—but risk doesn’t disappear after that. Consider setting your own household rules that go beyond the minimum. For example, you might limit passengers to specific, predictable trips like rides home from sports practice. 

Set clear expectations around devices 

State laws prohibit any wireless device use (even hands-free) under age 18. Reinforce this by setting a clear expectation: phones stay out of reach while driving. Encourage your teen to set navigation and music before leaving—and model this behavior yourself. 

Reinforce “drive-ready” decision-making 

Help your teen understand when not to drive. That includes being tired, emotional, sick, distracted, or under the influence of any substance — including alcohol, marijuana, or sedating medications. Prevention starts with recognizing when conditions aren’t safe. 

Create a backup plan 

Make it easy for your teen to choose the safe option. Set up a teen rideshare account (like Uber Teen) or establish a no-questions-asked ride policy. According to AAA, 82% of teens say their friends would risk driving impaired rather than ask for help. Removing that fear can prevent a tragedy. 

Limit night driving 

Night driving introduces additional risks. Consider setting a household curfew, such as no driving after 10 p.m., even if state laws allow more flexibility. 

Make seatbelts non-negotiable 

Every trip, every seat, every time—no exceptions. 

Use the PEMCO My Driving Program to support safer habits 

Reminding teen drivers to slow down, avoid distractions, or stay focused can sometimes feel like background noise. That’s where tools can help reinforce safe habits. 

PEMCO’s My Driving Program, available through the Go PEMCO app, gives families a simple way to track and encourage safer driving behaviors. 

By using smartphone technology, the program provides insight into driving habits—like speeding, hard braking, and phone use—so drivers can better understand where they can improve. 

It’s a practical way to turn everyday driving into an opportunity for safer choices. 

How the My Driving Program works 

The program is easy to set up in the Go PEMCO app—no additional devices required. 

Once enabled, it uses your smartphone’s GPS and motion sensors to capture driving patterns over a 91-day period. It records trips and highlights moments where driving behaviors, like hard braking or phone movement, may increase risk. 

Each participating driver receives a temporary discount during the monitoring period. And if safe driving thresholds are met, drivers may qualify for a personalized My Driving Discount, with participants earning an average of about 10% savings. 

More importantly, it helps build awareness and reinforces safer habits over time. 

We’re all in on prevention because we’re all in on you 

You may have more influence than you might think. The expectations you set, the habits you model, and the conversations you have all help shape how your teen approaches driving. 

Driving brings freedom—but it also comes with real risks, especially for new drivers. 

If you have questions about the My Driving Program, you can visit pemco.com, call 1-800-GO-PEMCO, or connect with your local agent.