Reviews Report
- Earlier analyses suggested 74% of car drives by teens were distracted, but newer national data show distraction remains widespread: about 1 in 3 high school student drivers report texting or emailing while driving (CDC YRBS), and telematics finds drivers spend roughly 2 minutes per driving hour actively using their phones with distraction often present just before crashes (CMT 2024).
- During the “100 Deadliest Days” between Memorial Day and Labor Day, teen-driver crash fatalities rise; AAA reports more than 7,000 people were killed nationwide in these summer-period crashes over the most recent decade analyzed.
- In fatal crashes with teen/young drivers, distraction continues to be recorded for a notable share: in 2023 it was roughly 1 in 12, underscoring persistent risk (IIHS). Summer months remain the deadliest of the year for motor-vehicle deaths (IIHS month-by-month).
Summer remains the busiest driving season in the U.S. National fatalities fell to an estimated 40,990 and the fatality rate declined to 1.26 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2023 (NHTSA), yet June–August consistently see the most crash deaths as travel volume peaks (IIHS; FHWA Traffic Volume Trends).
However, inexperienced teenage drivers may not be used to the dangers of driving during the summer or could engage in dangerous driving habits themselves. A summer driving safety guide can help parents talk to their teenage drivers about how to drive safely during the warmer months and mitigate the risks.
The Risks of Summer Driving for Teenagers
Because more people are traveling during the summer months, crashes and impaired driving remain elevated. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported summer driving risks. Current data show distraction is cited for a meaningful share of teen/young drivers in fatal crashes and that hundreds of people die each year in crashes involving distracted drivers; see NHTSA resources and IIHS teen fatality facts.
Meanwhile, alcohol-related crashes remain a persistent summer risk. During Memorial Day periods, alcohol impairment is a major contributor to fatalities. Nationally, alcohol-impaired driving accounted for 31% of all U.S. traffic deaths in 2022 (NHTSA).
Moreover, the National Safety Council states Independence Day has the highest share of traffic deaths involving an alcohol-impaired driver among major U.S. holidays — typically around 4 in 10 holiday-period traffic deaths.
Summer is also when more people drive long distances to visit family, go on road trips, and more. In recent years, national traffic data show that summer driving volume reliably peaks. With travel demand high and congestion patterns shifting toward mid-day and weekends, expect busy roads again this summer. FHWA data show summer VMT peaks, and IIHS shows July and August are typically the deadliest months.
Parents can mitigate these risks of their teens driving during the summer by helping them develop their skills behind the wheel, even after they get their license.
“Teaching your teenager to fine-tune his or her driving skills by practicing on progressively harder roads, from quiet streets to busy highways, at night and in rain,” John Peterson, editor of Safe Drive Gear recommends. In turn, they become an all-around better driver, more capable of handling varied climate changes, and used to more challenging road conditions.
2025 Teen Summer Driving Trends
Summer 2025 looks busy and “normal.” Restaurants, concerts, and movie theaters are in full swing, and leisure road trips remain popular, creating more opportunities to drive during the summer months. At the same time, the national fatality rate per mile improved in 2023, but summer still concentrates the most crash deaths (NHTSA; IIHS).
Moreover, teens continue to value in-person time with friends after years of disrupted routines — many are burnt out on talking to friends on screens.
With this renewed freedom and increased socializing come some risks. Having this freedom could result in more opportunities for driving while using their phone for music or talking to passengers in the car. In fact, Life360, an app that helps parents monitor their teen’s driving behavior, previously reported 74% of teenager drives as distracted; the latest public-health and telematics data show that about one-third of U.S. high school student drivers report texting or emailing while driving and that drivers spend roughly 2 minutes per hour interacting with phones, with distraction frequently present just before crashes (CDC YRBS 2023; CMT 2024).
Social media trends also play a role. Recent years have seen platform-amplified behaviors such as street takeovers and the Hyundai/Kia theft “challenge,” alongside everyday filming and posting from behind the wheel — each of which can encourage risky, distracted, or illegal driving. See examples and warnings from state safety offices and analyses of the Hyundai/Kia theft trend.
Noticing trending challenges like these is an opportunity for parents to establish a dialogue with their teens about the dangers of participating in social media trends when behind the wheel, even when platforms say such content is banned. TikTok’s community guidelines prohibit dangerous acts while driving, but enforcement gaps can persist.
Furthermore, with more socializing, this summer comes more opportunities for impaired driving, including driving while tired and drowsy.
“With less driving experience, it can be difficult to recognize the warning signs and consequences of drowsy driving,” says Tisha Ferraro of Life360. “Encourage your teen to take routine breaks on long drives so that they are more likely to remain alert on the road. Help them choose rest stops ahead of time, and decide how long driving stretches should last.”
Teen Driving Safety Tips
To help your teen establish a foundation of safe driving behaviors, here are some safety tips to employ:
- Eliminate distracted driving: Because teens do not have the experience to have full situational awareness, they must eliminate all distractions by having their phone on a do not disturb setting. Doing this prevents them from glancing down at their phones, so their sole focus is on the road. Consider enabling iPhone Driving Focus/Android Do Not Disturb While Driving before every trip (Apple Support: Driving Focus).
- Avoid drowsy driving: Teenagers are inexperienced drivers, and getting behind the wheel while tired or drowsy can increase their risk of getting into an accident. It’s estimated that about 100,000 police-reported crashes are a result of driving while drowsy each year.
- Be lenient with curfews: When setting a curfew, instead of setting a time when they should be home, set the time for when they should leave. Stress to them the importance of giving a call before they leave, so even if they are running a little late, they do not have to rush to get home.
- Have them leave early: Stress the importance of leaving a few minutes early for curfew, work, or school. When rushed, teens might speed, making them more susceptible to accidents.
- Talk about road rage: have conversations about positively reacting when someone else displays aggressive driving behaviors. Stress the importance of refraining from engaging with the other driver. Instead, take a few deep breaths, give a wide berth (if possible), and allow the driver to move on. Varda Meyers Epstein, a parenting expert with Kars4Kids, notes, “Teenage hormones cause teens to exhibit unpredictable behavior, including recklessness, wild emotional swings, and unwarranted aggression.”
- Don’t be a distraction: If you know your teen is driving, do not message or call them until you know they are out of the car unless it is an emergency.
- Set clear expectations: Be upfront with your expectations with your teen. When doing so, Epstein notes, “Parents should consider that fear-based messaging isn’t very effective, and it’s better to speak to your teen about the positive benefits of driving safely.”
How Driving Incidents Affect Teen’s Auto Insurance
Another part of educating teen drivers is explaining how auto insurance works. Parents can do this by reviewing their teen’s auto insurance policy with them. Show them how much the auto insurance premium is and what it covers relative to property damages, medical expenses, how deductibles work, and more. Parents can also use this opportunity to show their teens how to shop for the best auto insurance policies. Teens usually pay less when added to a parent policy and may qualify for good-student, driver-training, and telematics discounts. Note that overall auto insurance prices rose sharply through 2024, increasing the dollar impact of teen surcharges (BLS CPI).
It is also an excellent time to discuss how unsafe driving behaviors can lead to accidents and traffic citations, which results in insurance premium increases and other negative consequences. As a general guide, a single minor speeding ticket can raise rates around 15–30% on average, an at-fault crash around 30–50%, and a DUI 60% or more, with surcharges often lasting 3–5 years and potential SR-22/FR-44 filing requirements after a DUI, depending on state rules (speeding; at-fault crash; FR-44). Some states use prescriptive point plans for surcharge duration (e.g., Massachusetts SDIP).
With summer fast approaching, many will be eager to take to the roads once again. With the increased traffic and historically higher incidences of DUI-related traffic fatalities around summer holidays, your teen must have a solid foundation of safe driving techniques. Parents can also encourage safe driving behaviors in their children by setting an example to follow.
“Setting a good example of safe driving is an important part of making sure your teen understands how to keep safe on the road,” Ferraro remarks. “Keep both hands on the wheel, avoid fiddling with the radio or your phone and demonstrate strong defensive driving.”
