Memorial Day weekend kicks off “100 deadliest days” for teen drivers, experts say

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)- According to the National Road Safety Foundation, Memorial Day weekend kicks off what is often referred to by traffic safety experts as “the 100 deadliest days.”

The foundation said the period from Memorial Day through Labor Day usually sees a dangerous spike in teen traffic fatalities.

"holiday weekend is kind of the start of the summer of summer vacation time, summer driving time. Shortly after memorial day, many schools are having graduation and proms and then young people are either on vacation or they've got summer jobs," said David Reich, Director Public Relations National Road Safety Foundation.

With more kids getting out of school and getting behind the wheel, Reich said this weekend begins one of the most dangerous seasons for teen drivers.

Reich said each year an average of 2,100 teen drivers are involved in fatal crashes, with 30 percent occurring during the 100 deadliest days.

“Every one of those numbers, every fatality has families attached, people who love them, friends say the other people in school or coworkers, so even one life lost on the road is a tragedy,” he said.

Reich said the top three things that put a teen at risk are speed, distractions, and no seat belts.

“Parents need to talk to their young people about speeding, certainly about drinking and driving or drugs and driving and also distractions”, he said.

For more ways on how you can talk to your kids about safety, click here.