Ohio’s 100 Deadliest Days: How To Reduce The Risk Of Teen Car Crashes in Sandusky This Summer
Summer in Ohio means cookouts, road trips, and long evenings on the water. With school out of session, it also means more teen drivers on the road, increasing the likelihood of car accidents in Sandusky.
Memorial Day through Labor Day is often called the 100 Deadliest Days due to the hazards posed by teen drivers. Our experienced Sandusky car crash lawyers explain why they happen and how Ohio families can reduce the risks.
How Teen Drivers Increase the Risk of Sandusky Car Crashes
Teen car crashes pose serious risks on roads throughout Ohio and across the U.S. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) warns that over 2,000 teens are killed in collisions annually, while nearly 200,000 others are injured. With teens out of school, summer is the most likely time of year for these crashes.
According to the National Road Safety Foundation, factors that make teen drivers particularly dangerous on the road include:
- Teens lack the experience of older drivers, which can prevent them from responding appropriately to sudden changes in traffic or road conditions and make them more susceptible to mistakes.
- Teens are still developing, and immaturity makes them more likely to speed, run red lights, or engage in other dangerous behaviors.
- Teens are more likely to be distracted by cell phones, passengers, and activities outside the vehicle.
- Teens often forego sleep to spend time with friends or work double shifts, which makes them more susceptible to drowsy driving.
- Teen drinking spikes during the summer, which increases the risks behind the wheel.
- Teens are less likely to wear seatbelts, increasing the risk of potentially fatal injuries.
The danger does not stop with teen drivers. Increased overall traffic, more commercial trucks on Ohio highways than normal, and drivers unfamiliar with local roads all add to summer crash risks for everyone.
How Ohio Families Can Reduce Summer Crash Risks
Ohio’s graduated licensing law (Section 4507.071 of the Ohio Revised Code) helps reduce crash risks by imposing restrictions on new teen drivers. Families can protect teens during the summer driving season by:
- Talking openly about the specific risks of summer driving and common reasons behind these crashes.
- Set clear expectations about phone use, passenger limits, and curfews.
- Review road rules and regulations, including seat belt requirements.
- Making sure every driver in your household, teen or adult, understands that impaired driving includes drugs, not just alcohol.
Unfortunately, even with precautions, car crashes involving teen drivers can still occur. If this happens to your teen, have them notify the authorities right away, get immediate care for any injuries and avoid downplaying them, and get professional legal help before making statements to insurers.
Consult Our Experienced Sandusky Car Crash Lawyers
Teen-related car crashes in Sandusky are more common during the summer months. At Murray & Murray, our Ohio car crash lawyers investigate the crash, establish fault, and fight for the full compensation your family deserves.
To request a consultation, give our office a call. We provide trusted legal representation to crash victims in Sandusky, Ohio, and the surrounding areas.
Sources:
nrsf.org/100-safest-days-summer
crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813736.pdf
codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4507.071