The summer season is universally viewed as a fun and happy time for all, especially for
teens enjoying the freedom that comes at the end of the school year. This extra free
time generally means there are more teen drivers on our roads than at other times of
the year. Unfortunately, this seasonal increase in teen drivers also corresponds with a
sharp and consistent rise in the number of injuries, and deaths resulting from motor
vehicle accidents. This upward spike in deaths involving teen drivers, particularly
concentrated in the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day, is so alarming that it
has become nationally recognized as the “100 Deadliest Days Of Summer.”
With this very real danger in mind, the Town coordinated a DWI demonstration earlier
this week for Nanuet High School seniors. I am grateful for their participation, as the
lessons provided are extremely important. Special thanks to the Nanuet Fire
Department, Nanuet Ambulance Corps (particularly the Youth Corps members who
volunteer to play the roles of driver and victims), the Clarkstown Police Department and
the Rockland District Attorney’s Office for arranging this event which features a very
stark, factual re-enactment of a fatal accident and the consequences for the surviving
drunk driver.
The statistics are eye-opening. Nationwide, 13,135 people were killed in a crash
involving a teen driver between 2019-2023. Over 30% of those deaths occurred during
the “100 deadliest days” according to a AAA review of crash data from the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Of course, it makes sense that more teen drivers
on the roads corresponds with more accidents involving teen drivers, but there are
other factors that come into play.
AAA also cites relaxed or distracted driver behavior as a significant contributing factor
to the jump in fatalities. If you’ve ever driven a group of teenagers anywhere, you
probably know firsthand how distracting they can be, and when there’s no adult present
it usually gets worse. Research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows that
when a teen driver has only teen passengers in their vehicle, the fatality rate for all
people increased by 51%. In instances where teens were accompanied by passengers
35 years of age or older, the overall fatality rates in crashes decreased by 8%.
Thankfully, there are steps parents can take to help protect their teenage children. The
most basic and important step is simply to educate them on the dangers of drunk and
impaired driving. Teens need to understand that a motor vehicle accident is the single
most likely cause of death for their age group, and it can happen to anyone. It’s
important for them to understand how frequently these incidents take place. According
to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics, the number of overall
deaths from drunk driving incidents is still on the rise.
It’s also imperative to establish an understanding between parents and teens that
making a late-night call home for a ride is a far better choice than putting someone in
danger. If you are a parent of a teen, let them know never to drive or get in the car with
someone who has been drinking or taking other drugs. Agreeing on a ‘no questions
asked’ parent pickup or ‘Uber’ policy can be the difference between life and death.
Other important factors that help keep everyone safe include obeying speed limits,
using seat belts, putting phones down while driving, and focusing on the road.
It is not just teens that can benefit from these safety reminders. Adults need to lead by
example. The statistics cited here include adult fatalities involving teen drivers, as well
as adult drivers that killed teen drivers and their passengers in another car. As a parent
or an adult, the last thing you’d want to be responsible for is the death of someone’s
child as a result of your negligence or criminality.
This time of year, I always remember 13 year old Larisa Karassik who was tragically
killed in a crash with a drunk driver. Her mother Anastasia Karassik, speaks at our DWI
awareness events and her remarks bring a very real and personal reflection to the
effects of drunk driving as she describes the shift from a carefree Memorial Day
weekend to the unspeakable grief of having to identify her daughter’s body. On a
beautiful summer afternoon, Larisa went to get ice cream with her dad and friend.
Larisa’s life was taken by a driver with two prior DWI convictions who was driving with a
blood alcohol level of twice the legal limit and also impaired by drugs. The driver died in
the accident along with Larisa, her friend and father suffered serious injuries that
required dozens of surgeries.
One bad decision can have horrific and irrevocable consequences that will affect you
and others. Make responsible and smart choices to keep yourself and others safe on
the roads, especially during the summer months. Also be aware that the Clarkstown
Police Department and other law enforcement agencies increase enforcement during
these “100 Deadliest Days.”
Please put safety first when it comes to driving; it can mean the difference between a
happy summer or a tragic one.
