Why Teen Driver Deaths Jump During Summer Months

Person wearing a sweater using the parking brake lever in a car with a manual transmission.

Distraction, speeding & peer pressure drive the spike in teen fatalities

Summer in South Carolina should be a time of freedom, road trips, and warm-weather fun, especially for teen drivers. Instead, it becomes a season of heartbreak for many families due to inexperienced teen drivers.

Every year, the number of fatal car crashes involving teen drivers surges between Memorial Day and Labor Day. That’s why this period is nationally known as the “100 Deadliest Days” for teen drivers. The same is true in South Carolina.

What makes summer driving so dangerous for teens?

Fatal car wrecks caused by teen drivers surge 30 percent higher nationwide during the summer months, according to AAA Carolinas. There are several general reasons why summer can be more dangerous for teen drivers. School is out, curfews are looser, and teens are more likely to be on the road with friends or headed to social events, beaches, or summer jobs.

“Summer months are particularly dangerous as more young drivers hit the road during school breaks with many logging more unsupervised driving time than usual,” said Jake Nelson, Director of Traffic Safety Advocacy for AAA.

What are the common causes of teen driver crashes?

Teen drivers aren’t just more dangerous during the summer. They can cause collisions for various reasons throughout the year. Common contributing factors for crashes caused by teen drivers include:

Inexperience – New drivers often lack the reflexes and decision-making skills necessary to respond quickly to hazards. In heavy summer traffic or on unfamiliar roads, that inexperience can turn deadly.
Distracted Driving – Phones, loud music, and other young passengers all compete for a teen’s attention. This explains why teen drivers account for 6 percent of all distracted driving fatalities for all ages, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Speeding – Teen drivers are more likely to speed and less likely to understand the impact that speed has on braking distance and control. The result: 30 percent of all fatal teen crashes involve excessive speeding, according to AAA.
Drunk Driving – Despite being underage, 30 percent of teen drivers had alcohol in their bodies when they caused fatal car accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Not Wearing Seatbelts – According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), teens are the least likely age group to buckle up. The result: 53 percent of teens killed in car crashes were not wearing their seatbelts at the time of the accident, according to NHTSA.

How bad are teen driving accidents in South Carolina?

The numbers are clear. Teen drivers in South Carolina are involved in a significant number of collisions. In 2022, drivers aged 15 to 20 years old accounted for 10.8 percent of all traffic fatalities statewide in South Carolina, according to a study conducted by the NHTSA.

Here’s another startling statistic about teen drivers in South Carolina. A teen driver is involved in a collision that kills or injures someone every 1.4 hours in South Carolina, according to the South Carolina Department of Insurance (SCDOI).

How does South Carolina law handle teen driver crashes?

South Carolina utilizes a Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program to introduce teens to driving. This system includes restrictions such as:

No driving after midnight for conditional license holders.
Limited passenger numbers.
No use of mobile devices, even hands-free.

However, not all teens follow these rules, and when they don’t, their mistakes can have fatal consequences.

Who pays for injuries caused by a teen driver?

In most cases, the teen driver’s auto insurance will cover damages. If the teenager was driving a family vehicle, the family’s insurance policy applies. But what if:

The teen was driving a friend’s car?
The crash involved multiple vehicles?
Accident expenses exceed insurance limits?

In these situations, multiple claims may be needed to pursue full compensation. It’s also possible to seek recovery from umbrella insurance policies or, in rare cases, directly from the parents or vehicle owners.

Can you sue a teen driver or their parents after a crash in South Carolina?

After a serious car accident caused by a teenage driver, one of the most important questions injury victims have is whether they can take legal action. In South Carolina, depending on the situation, you may be able to recover compensation through a claim against the teen driver, their parents, or other responsible parties.

South Carolina law allows for the possibility of holding parents financially responsible for a crash caused by their child, especially if:

The vehicle belongs to the family. The parents’ insurance policy usually applies when the teen is driving a car owned by a household member.
The parent signed the license application. This agreement includes accepting legal responsibility for any harm the teen may cause while driving.
There is evidence of negligent supervision. If a parent knowingly allowed their child to drive recklessly or without a valid license, they could be liable for resulting damages.

How can a lawyer help after a teen driving accident?

Teen driver accident cases in South Carolina often become complicated and confusing legal matters. That’s why it’s critical that you have a South Carolina car accident lawyer handling your case who understands how the system works and knows what needs to be done to do the job right.

At Twenge + Twombley, we know how to build a strong case, negotiate aggressively with insurance companies, and — if necessary — take your case to court. We’ve helped families throughout South Carolina secure meaningful results after devastating crashes, and we’re ready to help you.

Teen driver accidents are more than statistics — they’re real tragedies with lifelong consequences. If your family is dealing with the aftermath of a serious crash involving a teen driver, contact Twenge + Twombley and schedule a free consultation with a South Carolina car accident attorney you can count on in a crisis. We represent injury victims throughout South Carolina.

"Mr. Twombley is an aggressive attorney who will work diligently to address and resolve his client's legal issues. He is very knowledgeable in the legal field, giving him a leading edge to assist and serve his clients." – Julia K., ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐