Summer can be one of the most exciting seasons in a teen’s life. School is out. Schedules open up. Teens start driving to summer jobs, practices, hangouts, road trips, and family events. For many families, it feels like the first real taste of independence.
But summer also brings a serious risk.
AAA calls the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day the 100 Deadliest Days for teen drivers because fatal crashes involving teen drivers tend to rise during this time.
In Oregon, the 2024 numbers were especially sobering: 36 people were killed in crashes involving a teen driver, and nearly half of those deaths happened during the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
At Pacific Driver Education, we work with Oregon teens and families every day. We know teen driving is not just about passing a test. It is about building the calm, low-risk habits that help a new driver stay safe when they are alone, distracted, excited, tired, or unsure what to do next.
This article will explain why summer is such a risky time for teen drivers, what parents can do to lower that risk, what teens should practice before driving more often, and how structured driver education can help families feel more prepared.
Summer changes a teen’s driving routine quickly.
During the school year, many teens have a more predictable schedule. They may drive to school, work, practice, or nearby errands. In the summer, the road opens up. Teens may drive more often, later at night, and with more friends in the car. They may also drive to new places they do not know well.
That extra freedom is exciting, but it can also increase risk.
According to AAA, more than 30% of fatal crashes involving teen drivers happen during the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Nationwide, 7,805 people died in summertime crashes involving teen drivers from 2015 through 2024. That comes out to about seven people every day during this summer period.
These crashes are not always caused by one big mistake. Many happen because of small risks stacking up at the same time: a new driver, a busy road, a phone notification, friends talking in the back seat, speeding, or a late-night drive home.
That is why summer driving safety needs to start before a teen is in a hard moment behind the wheel.
When we talk about teen driver safety, it is easy to focus only on the teen behind the wheel. But a crash can affect passengers, other drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and whole families.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s teen driver safety data shows that in 2024, 2,320 people were killed in crashes involving a teen driver between ages 15 and 18. Of those deaths, 752 were teen drivers. Another 478 were passengers riding with a teen driver.
That means teen driving safety is a community issue. Every safer choice matters, not only for the teen learning to drive, but for everyone sharing the road with them.
The good news is that teen crashes are preventable. Teens can learn safer habits. Parents can set clear rules. Families can practice together. And professional instruction can give teens a stronger foundation before they face high-pressure driving situations on their own.
Teens are not risky because they are “bad drivers.” They are risky because they are new drivers.
The CDC’s teen driver risk factors show that crash risk is higher for drivers ages 16 to 19 than for any other age group. Teen drivers in this age group also have a fatal crash rate almost three times as high as drivers age 20 and older per mile driven.
A few key factors raise the risk.
New drivers are still building judgment. They may know the rules, but they have not yet faced enough real-world situations to react smoothly every time.
For example, an experienced driver may notice a pedestrian near a crosswalk, a car drifting into their lane, or brake lights far ahead. A new driver may not see the risk until later. That delay can matter.
Friends can make driving more fun, but they can also make it more distracting. The CDC notes that teen or young adult passengers increase crash risk for unsupervised teen drivers. The risk rises with each additional teen or young adult passenger.
For parents, this is one of the most important summer rules to think through. Even a responsible teen can have trouble staying focused when the car is full of friends.
Summer often means later nights. Teens may be driving home from work, movies, sports, or social events after dark.
Night driving is harder for new drivers. Visibility is lower. Fatigue is more common. Other drivers may be impaired or distracted. A teen who feels confident during the day may still need more practice before driving at night without an adult.
Speeding gives a teen less time to react and makes crashes more severe. NHTSA reports that speeding was a factor in 33% of fatal crashes involving teen drivers ages 15 to 18 in 2024.
This is one reason parents should talk about speed often, not as a lecture, but as a skill. Safe speed is not only about following the posted limit. It is also about adjusting for rain, traffic, curves, construction, pedestrians, and visibility.
Phones are a major concern, but they are not the only distraction.
Music, food, GPS, passengers, emotions, and even reaching for something in the car can take a teen’s attention away from driving. For a new driver, a few seconds of distraction can be enough to miss a potential hazard.
A simple rule helps: the phone should be set up before the car moves, then left alone until the car is parked, or better yet, put the phone on "Airplane Mode".
Oregon’s teen driving rules are designed to give new drivers more time to build skill before they take on higher-risk situations.
Oregon’s teen licensing rules are designed to give new drivers more time to build skill before they drive on their own.
According to the Oregon DMV, teens under 18 must complete 100 hours of supervised driving experience, or 50 hours if they have taken and passed an approved Driver Ed course before getting a provisional license.
Teens who complete an ODOT-approved course may also qualify for a drive test waiver, while teens who do not complete driver education still need to take a drive test.
Oregon also has rules for newly licensed teen drivers. The Oregon DMV’s provisional license restrictions limit passengers under age 20 and restrict driving between midnight and 5 a.m. during the first year, with some exceptions.
These rules matter. But rules alone do not build skill.
A teen needs practice in many conditions: quiet streets, busy intersections, parking lots, highways, rain, night driving, school zones, and unfamiliar routes. The goal is not just to complete hours. The goal is to build judgment in various situations.
This takes time, structure, and calm feedback.
Parents do not need to control every mile their teen drives. But they do need to set clear expectations before summer driving begins.
The CDC’s guidance for reducing teen driver risk encourages parents to provide supervised practice in varied conditions, set clear rules, and use a parent-teen driving agreement.
Here are practical ways to do that.
Do not wait until there is a conflict. Before your teen drives alone, agree on rules for:
Passengers
Phone use
Seat belts
Speed
Curfew
Music volume
Driving in bad weather
What to do if plans change
What to do if they feel unsafe
Make the rules clear and simple. Teens should know what is expected before they are in the driver’s seat.
Getting a license does not mean learning is finished. It means the next stage of learning has started.
Ride with your teen during the summer, even after they are licensed. Choose short drives with a clear purpose. Practice one skill at a time, such as lane changes, freeway merging, left turns, or parking in a busy lot.
Keep your tone calm. Teens learn better when they feel supported, not judged.
Teens notice how adults drive.
If parents speed, text, roll through stops, or drive aggressively, teens may see those habits as normal. If parents buckle up, put their phones away, leave space, and stay calm, teens are more likely to adopt those habits.
Safe driving starts long before a teen gets a permit.
Summer schedules can change fast. Before your teen leaves, ask:
Where are you going?
Who will be in the car?
What route will you take?
When will you be home?
What is the backup plan if you are tired, upset, or uncomfortable?
This is not about mistrust. It is about preparation.
A clear plan helps teens make better choices when the moment gets stressful.
Teens need more than road rules. They need real skills they can use when traffic is moving, friends are talking, and conditions change.
Before summer driving picks up, teens should practice:
New drivers often focus only on the car in front of them. Safer drivers look farther ahead.
Teens should practice scanning intersections, sidewalks, driveways, parked cars, and traffic lights early. This gives them more time to react.
This is the foundation of situational awareness: noticing what is happening around the vehicle before it becomes an emergency.
Speed control is one of the most important habits a teen can build. Teens should practice slowing down before curves, adjusting speed in rain, and keeping enough space between cars.
Following too closely gives a driver less time to stop. A teen should learn to leave more space than they think they need, especially in traffic, rain, or darkness.
Intersections are busy and unpredictable. Teens should practice complete stops, checking both directions, watching for pedestrians, and making safe left turns.
Summer brings more people walking, biking, and using scooters. Teens should build the habit of scanning early in areas where vulnerable road users are common, especially near parks, neighborhoods, schools, crosswalks, and shopping areas.
Seeing people sooner gives new drivers more time to slow down, create space, and respond safely.
Parking lots may seem simple, but they are full of movement. Cars back out. People walk between vehicles. Children may be hard to see.
A parking lot is a good place to practice slow speed control, scanning, and patience.
Teens should know what to say if passengers are loud, distracting, or pushing them to drive faster.
A simple phrase can help: “I need to focus. I’ll pull over if I need to.”
That may feel awkward at first, but it is a strong safety skill.
For more teen-focused reminders, check out our article on tips for building safe driving habits early.
Parents play a major role in teaching teens to drive. But many families also benefit from a trained instructor who can bring structure, calm feedback, and a clear learning path.
A good driver education course does more than prepare a teen for a test. It helps teens understand risk, practice safe choices, and build habits they can use for life.
Professional instruction can be especially helpful when:
A teen is anxious
A teen is overconfident.
Parent practice is becoming stressful
A teen needs help with specific skills
A family wants a clear practice plan
Summer driving is coming up quickly
A professional instructor can also spot habits that may be hard for a parent to notice, such as late scanning, tight following distance, rough braking, poor lane position, or unsafe speed for conditions.
If you are comparing options, it may help to review what to look for in a quality program. We've produced a guide on what to look for in a driver’s ed course for your teen, including pacing, instructor support, behind-the-wheel training, and parent communication.
For Oregon families deciding between at-home practice and professional lessons, we also have an article comparing parent-taught vs. professional driving lessons for Oregon teens.
The best path is often a mix of both: professional instruction for structure and skill-building, plus regular parent practice to reinforce those habits in real life.
Situational awareness is one of the most important skills a teen driver can build. It means staying alert to what is happening around the vehicle, noticing changes early, and making safe choices before a situation becomes urgent.
For teen drivers, this matters even more during summer. More people are traveling. More families are on road trips. More bikes, pedestrians, and scooters are outside. Road construction may change familiar routes. Holiday weekends can bring heavier traffic, impatient drivers, and people who may be distracted or impaired.
A teen with strong situational awareness is not just watching the car in front of them. They are scanning farther ahead, checking mirrors, noticing side streets, watching crosswalks, leaving space, and thinking about what other road users might do next.
Teens should learn to ask themselves:
What is changing around me?
Do I have enough space?
Can other drivers, pedestrians, or cyclists see me?
Am I moving too fast for this situation?
What is my safest option if something unexpected happens?
These questions help teens stay active and aware behind the wheel. Instead of reacting at the last second, they learn to see risk sooner and respond with more calm and control.
This is especially important during the 100 Deadliest Days, when teens may be driving more often, carrying passengers, staying out later, and visiting unfamiliar places. The more aware they are of their surroundings, the better prepared they are to make safe decisions in real time.
Summer driving is not something families need to fear. But it is something families should take seriously.
The 100 Deadliest Days are a reminder that new drivers need more than freedom. They need practice, support, structure, and clear expectations.
A teen who learns to slow down, scan ahead, manage distractions, limit passengers, buckle up, and stay calm is not just preparing for a license. They are building skills that can protect them for life.
Before your teen’s summer calendar fills up, take time to build a plan:
Review Oregon’s rules
Set family expectations
Practice together
Talk about hard situations before they happen
When your teen needs more support, bring in professional help.
That is where Pacific Driver Education can help. As an Oregon driving school with certified instructors and ODOT Driver Ed options, we help teens build the low-risk driving habits they need for real roads, not just the road test.
Our team works with new drivers every day, helping them practice safe decision-making, manage distractions, build confidence, and understand what responsible driving looks like in everyday situations.
Pacific Driver Education offers teen driver education in Oregon, including classroom learning, behind-the-wheel training, and supportive instruction for new drivers.
For parents, that means another trusted voice reinforcing the same lessons you want your teen to carry into every drive: slow down, stay aware, make safe choices, and come home safely.
This summer, give your teen more than permission to drive. Give them the preparation, guidance, and confidence to drive well.