'100 Deadliest Days' Begin On Ohio Roadways

OHIO — One of the deadliest stretches for drivers has begun in Ohio.

The "100 deadliest days," the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day, typically see a sharp increase in fatal car crashes involving teen drivers. In Ohio, on average, 23 teenagers are killed in deadly crashes during this time each year, according to AAA.

“There are more daily deaths in crashes involving teen drivers during the summer months than the rest of the year because teens tend to have more unstructured time behind the wheel," said Jake Nelson, AAA's director of traffic safety advocacy and research.

The summer of 2021 could be even deadlier than usual since many teen drivers received less driving experience than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, AAA warned. Considering that teenagers are already three times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than other drivers, that's reason for concern.

AAA driving instructors said these were the most common mistakes made by teen drivers:

• Failure to yield
• Speeding
• Poor visual scanning

“While teens may make mistakes when first learning to drive, it is important to continue educating them about safety behind the wheel so they avoid the reckless behaviors that put themselves and others at risk on the road,” said Kellie O’Riordan, traffic safety program manager and lead instructor for AAA Driver Education.

What Parents Can Do

Ohio law requires all new teen drivers, younger than 18, to complete 24 hours of classroom education and eight hours of behind-the-wheel training with a licensed driving instructor. However, parents must supervise 50 hours of teen driving, before teens can obtain a license.

As parents watch over their teens driving, AAA recommends they do the following:

• Discuss the dangers of risky driving behaviors, including speeding and nighttime driving.
• Teach by example and minimizing risky behaviors when driving.
• Make a parent-teen driving agreement that sets family rules for teen drivers. Consider setting driving limits that are stronger than the state’s current law, and enforce those limits.

“Parents have plenty to be concerned about as their teen hits the road this summer,” said Jennifer Ryan, AAA director of State Relations. “Teens are making deadly mistakes on the road. Parents are the best line of defense to keep everyone safe behind the wheel.”