In the Northeast, warmer temperatures aren’t the only indicator that summer is almost here — just take a look at the roads. The summer driving season brings out teens enjoying more independence behind the wheel, families taking road trips and people getting together for celebrations. To encourage safer choices during this busy travel time, AAA is calling for 100 Days of Safe Driving between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Safer driving has the potential to make a major impact during the summer. A AAA review of national crash data found that more than 30% of fatal crashes involving teen drivers and nearly one-third of all impaired-driving fatalities occur between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
“Summer is full of chances to make memories, travel and enjoy time with friends and family, but a safe return home is the most important part of any summer trip or celebration,” said Jillian Young, director of public relations for AAA Northeast. “A singular decision behind the wheel can be life changing. This summer and beyond, we implore drivers to make sure their decisions help save lives — not risk them.”
Teen Drivers
Teen drivers have a higher rate of fatal crashes compared to adult drivers, mainly because of inexperience behind the wheel, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In 2024, the most recent year of complete crash data, 2,636 people were killed in crashes involving a teen driver and nearly a third of those deaths occurred between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
AAA encourages teens to use the summer months as an opportunity to build safe driving habits by limiting distractions, obeying speed limits, buckling up, getting enough sleep and always driving sober. Parents also play an important role by setting expectations early and modeling safe behavior behind the wheel.
Impaired Driving
Summer celebrations, beach days and vacations can also lead to an increase in impaired driving. AAA’s crash data analysis found that nearly 1 in 3 summertime traffic deaths involved an impaired driver. AAA, in partnership with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, reminds anyone who plans to drink or use impairing substances to plan for a sober ride before going out.
State-Specific Data
Connecticut
There were 126 fatal crashes involving teen drivers (ages 16 to 19) from 2021 to 2025, with nearly a third of those crashes occurring from Memorial Day to Labor Day, according to the Connecticut Crash Data Repository.
In those same years, there were 444 fatal crashes from Memorial Day to Labor Day and nearly 32% of those crashes involved an impaired driver.
Massachusetts
There were 264 fatal crashes involving young drivers (ages 16 to 20) between 2020 and 2025, with more than 38% of those crashes occurring from Memorial Day to Labor Day, according to the Massachusetts IMPACT crash data portal.
In the last five years, there were 545 fatal crashes in June, July and August and more than 37% of those crashes involved an impaired driver.
New Jersey
There were more than 371 fatal crashes involving teen drivers (ages 16 to 20) between 2020 and 2025, with more than 32% of those crashes occurring from Memorial Day to Labor Day, according to Numetric.
In the last five years, there were 810 fatal crashes in June, July and August. More than 16% of those crashes involved an impaired driver.
New York
There were over 530 fatal crashes involving young drivers (ages 16 to 20) between 2020 and 2024, with more than 30% occurring in June, July and August, according to the New York State Traffic Safety Statistical Repository.
From 2019 to 2024, there were over 1,800 fatal crashes in June, July and August. Nearly 27% of those crashes involved an alcohol-impaired driver.
Last updated on May 28, 2026 by AAA Staff
Based in Rhode Island, Jillian Young is AAA Northeast’s director of public relations. She regularly appears in local TV, radio and print media to discuss traffic safety, travel, insurance and more.
