Inexperienced Drivers Expected to Up Risk of Crashes this Summer
The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is known as the “100 Deadliest Days” because fatalities involving teen drivers spike. Fleet drivers need to be keenly aware and practice defensive driving skills.

Each year an average of 2,063 teen drivers are involved in fatal crashes, and 31% of those occurred during the 100 Deadliest Days.
Photo: pixabay.com
More than 7,124 people died in teen-related summertime crashes from 2011 to 2020, reports CBS News. That translates to more than seven people every day compared to an average of six during the rest of the year.
Known as the 100 Deadliest Days, the period from Memorial Day to Labor Day is when crash deaths involving teen drivers spike the highest, according to the AAA Foundation. For example, each year an average of 2,063 teen drivers are involved in fatal crashes; 642 of those — or 31% — occurred during the 100 Deadliest Days.
Now is a good time for fleet operators to remind your drivers to practice their best defensive driving skills. Across the nation this summer, the roads will be filled with inexperienced drivers headed to beaches, parks, camping grounds, and more.
Because they lack experience behind the wheel, teens are susceptible to risky behaviors like speeding, distracted driving, and drowsy driving. Fleet drivers need to be on the lookout and ready to react when young drivers make risky moves on the road.
At anytime throughout the year, new teen drivers ages 16-17 are three times as likely as adults to be involved in a deadly crash, according to AAA Foundation research. Now factor in the 100 Deadliest Days — coupled with a summer that AAA expects to be one of the busiest due to pent up travel demand — and it’s clear that fleet drivers need to be vigilant about the situation.
More Safety

The Safest Fleets Aren’t the Ones with the Most Technology
You’ve made the telematics investment. Here’s how to capture the other half of its value and build the safest fleet on the road.
Read More →
Hidden in Plain Sight: Fleet Compliance Risks
Fleet compliance isn't just about having policies — it's about consistently enforcing them. This practical guide reveals six hidden compliance risks common in public sector and shared fleet operations and outlines proven strategies to improve visibility, accountability, and audit readiness
Read More →
NETS Sets 2026 Fleet Safety Benchmark Conference for Indianapolis
The Sept. 15–17 program will feature fleet benchmarking data, case studies, emerging technologies, and implementation strategies while running alongside the NSC Safety Congress & Expo.
Read More →
Off-the-Job Crashes Account for 43% of Employers’ $61.7 Billion Crash Burden
NETS quantifies costs dispersed across fleet, risk, HR, and other departments while providing new per-crash benchmarks for employers.
Read More →
Ram Recalls More Than 1.27 Million 1500 Pickups for Seat Belt Anchor Issue
The recall affects certain 2019-2026 Ram 1500 pickups that may have improperly attached second-row seat belt buckle anchors.
Read More →How Better Visibility Cut Speeding Violations by 48%
Fleet leaders don't need more data, they need clearer visibility into what the data is saying. This case study explores how one utility replaced speeding-event counts with a single metric — miles driven in violation — to strengthen safety and significantly reduce speeding violations.
Read More →
Operation Safe Driver Week: Why the Industry's Oldest Safety Campaign Still Matters to Fleets
A look at how a 2007 enforcement initiative became one of the most consequential weeks on the fleet safety calendar, and what it means for your drivers in 2026.
Read More →
Nexar-Nauto Merger Aims to Give Fleets Better Safety Intelligence Through Larger Driving Dataset
Stefan Heck tells Automotive Fleet that combining more than 10 billion miles of driving history with Nexar's AI models will give fleets deeper insights into driver risk and roadway conditions than either company could provide independently.
Read More →From Silos to Solutions: Relationship Management for Safer Fleets
From telematics adoption and driver accountability to policy consistency and risk mitigation, this episode breaks down what it really takes to build a safer fleet culture without slowing business down.
Read More →
IIHS Launches First Commercial Vehicle Safety Evaluations
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has begun evaluating heavy-duty pickups and cargo vans for driver protection. Which models earned top marks?
Read More →
