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School’s Out, Driving’s In: A Teen’s Summer Driving Guide
by Shreya Rajesh, Media Power Youth Student Volunteer, Academy for Science and Design
Ah, summer. That magical time when the sun is shining, cold smoothies are a daily essential, and every teen with a license turns into the designated Uber driver for their friend group. School’s out, freedom’s in—and so is a lot more driving.
But hold up. While you’re planning beach trips and late-night snack runs, the roads are doing their own thing: getting busier, riskier, and honestly? A little unhinged. So if you’re a new teen driver (or a parent who loves one), buckle up. Let’s talk about summer driving.
Why Summer Driving Hits Different ☀️
Let’s break it down: summer driving isn’t just “driving, but with better playlists.” It’s a whole new level of responsibility. Here’s why:
1. More Freedom = More Road Time
No 7 a.m. classes. No after-school sports. Just fun hangouts and vacation trips. However, more miles on the road means more chances for things to go sideways (literally). The time between Memorial Day and Labor Day is known as the “100 Deadliest Days” for a reason. Crash rates involving teens spike big time, and sadly, the stats back it up:
- According to the AAA Newsroom, on average, more than 7 teens die every day in car crashes during these 100 days—that’s nearly a third of all teen driver-related fatalities for the entire year nationwide.
- According to the CDC, teen drivers are three times more likely to be in a fatal crash per mile driven compared to drivers age 20+ nationwide.
Yes, the roads get wild. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the freedom—you just have to do it smart. (And maybe give the gas pedal a little less of a push.)
2. When the Trip Finally Makes it Out of the Group Chat
Friends in the car? Music blasting? Someone trying to Bluetooth their phone mid-drive? Distractions are a major issue. Phones, passengers, snacks—yes, even your Chick-fil-A waffle fries can wait. Most distractions fall into one (or more) of these three categories:
- Visual (taking your eyes off the road),
- Manual (taking your hands off the wheel), and
- Cognitive (taking your mind off driving).
Texting while driving? That’s all three at once—which is why it’s one of the most dangerous habits. Even just looking at your phone for 5 seconds at 55 mph means you’ve traveled the length of a football field without seeing the road. That’s not multitasking, that’s just driving blind.
3. Nighttime Driving is Not a Main Character Moment
Driving at night looks cool in movies, but in real life, it’s way harder to see, and your reaction time drops like your math grade mid-semester. For newer drivers, that’s a recipe for disaster. Keep it daylight if you can. Why? Because teen crash rates are 3× higher at night compared to during the day. Visibility is lower, headlights only reach so far, and it’s harder to judge speed and distance in the dark. Plus, fatigue kicks in, which can slow your reflexes even more.
If you’re a newer driver still building experience, daylight driving gives you better conditions to stay safe (and to spot that one random raccoon that always appears out of nowhere). And remember, for New Hampshire teens under 18, it’s illegal to drive between the hours of 1 and 4 AM.
4. Speeding Is Not a Personality Trait
Listen, we get it. It’s tempting to hit the gas when the roads feel open. But speeding is a top cause of teen crashes—especially in summer. No one’s impressed by your excessively loud engine when you speed 55-in-a-35 zone. Speeding increases both the chance of a crash and the severity of injuries if one happens. In fact, about one-third of fatal teen crashes involve speeding. The kicker? The faster you go, the less time you have to react and the longer it takes to stop. Translation: your playlist may be on fire, but your brakes aren’t magical.
How to Drive Smarter This Summer:
You’re not just a driver now—you have more responsibilities with a license. So here’s how to make sure you get to all your summer plans safely:
1. Phones on Do Not Disturb
If it’s not worth crashing for, it’s not worth checking. Use do not disturb mode or apps that silence notifications while driving. Your best friend will survive without your text for 15 minutes.
2. Limit Passengers
More people = more distractions. Many states even have laws about how many passengers new drivers can have—and for good reason. Keep the car distraction-free until you have more experience.
3. Full Stop at Stop Signs (Yes, All of Them)
Rolling through stop signs may feel harmless, but it’s a top cause of intersection accidents. A complete stop (yes, complete) gives you time to actually scan for cross traffic, pedestrians, and cyclists, AKA things you don’t want to run into this summer. That 3-second pause could save your summer.
4. Curate Your Playlist Before You Drive
No one needs you scrolling Spotify at a red light. Messing around with your phone or music while driving is a major distraction; it takes your eyes off the road and your hands off the wheel, even if just for a few seconds. Hit play before you hit the road. And honestly? Sometimes it’s okay to skip the playlist altogether. For new drivers, there’s already a lot to take in. Less noise = more focus. Let your brain breathe and your eyes stay sharp.
5. Low-Visibility Driving
If you’re still new to the roads, driving in broad daylight gives you a better shot at reacting to the unexpected. If you do have to drive at night or in tricky weather conditions like rain, fog, or heavy wind, here are some pro tips:
- Slow down. Roads can get slippery and stopping distances increase.
- Increase your following distance so you have more time to react if traffic ahead suddenly stops.
- Use your headlights properly: low beams in fog or rain, and never use high beams when there’s oncoming traffic.
Stay extra alert because bad weather and low visibility means hazards pop up faster.
6. Check the Car (You’re in Charge Now)
You don’t need to become a mechanic, but at least know how to check your gas, tire pressure, and dashboard lights. Summer breakdowns = not the kind of drama we want. Running out of gas on a hot day? Nope. Low tire pressure? That can lead to poor handling or even a blowout. And those dashboard warning lights? They’re trying to tell you something important. Don’t ignore them. A quick pre-trip check can save you from getting stranded and missing out on your summer plans.
In case an emergency does arise, here are some essentials we recommend having on board:
- A working flashlight with extra batteries
- A first aid kit
- Jumper cables
- A blanket
- An extra water bottle & non-perishable snack
Final Lap 🏁
Summer should be about adventures, not accidents. So drive like you’re taking your drivers test all over again. Stay sharp, stay safe, and please—for the love of cold smoothies—keep your eyes on the road.
See you on the road. Just not in the rearview mirror, speeding up behind us.
Looking for more information on Driving Safety? Check out these articles for more information: