Indiana Entering 100 Deadliest Days For Teen Drivers

Wednesday, June 12, 2019 at 8:42 AM

By Madelaine Braggs, 24/7 News Source

Statistically, Memorial Day through Labor Day is the deadliest time for teens on the road.

(Indianapolis, Ind.) - Indiana teen drivers are advised to take extra precaution behind the wheel this summer.

Memorial Day to Labor Day is known as the "100 Deadliest Days" for teen drivers, due the sharp annual increase in automobile fatalities involving teen drivers.

Julie Garner, who lost her son to texting and driving, says she wants teens to be just as involved as state officials when advocating for safety.

"Sadly, car crashes are one of the leading causes of death of our youth in this country, if not the leading cause from time to time. And I know that all too well," said Garner.

Garner created the Project Yellow Light program, which awards scholarships to students that create TV, radio and billboard public service advertisements to prevent distracted driving.

On average, distracted driving kills more than eight people in the US each day. In 2017, over 3,000 people were killed in crashes involving distracted drivers, representing over eight percent of all crash fatalities that year.

From 2002 through 2011, an average of 75 young drivers were killed every year in collisions on Indiana roadways. In 2012, over 40,000 Hoosiers under the age of 21 were involved in car accidents.