July 4 can be deadly for teen drivers; Arizona parents hold the key

Marc Lamber

Photo courtesy of Lamber Goodnow

The summer months should be filled with first jobs, beach days, and late-night fast-food runs. But for too many families, they end in tragedy. Don’t wait until July 4 or back-to-school season to talk to your teen, because the hardest thing I ever have to do is help a family pick up the pieces after it’s already too late.”

July 4 is among the 100 Deadliest Days for teen drivers, according to AAA and this period stretches through Labor Day. During this time, fatal crashes involving teens spike and Arizona families aren’t exempt.

As a personal injury attorney, I’ve seen what these crashes leave behind. Crumpled metal. Grief-stricken parents. Teens facing life-altering injuries or the trauma of having taken a life. And here’s the part that’s hardest to swallow — in so many cases, these crashes were entirely preventable.

Let’s talk about Arizona. We’re ranked the 15th worst state in the nation for dangerous teen drivers, based on behaviors like underage drinking, seat belt neglect and fatal crash rates. According to the 2023 Arizona Crash Facts Summary from the Arizona Department of Transportation — the most recent data available — 5,419 Arizona drivers ages 15 to 19 were injured in a motor vehicle crash, resulting in 76 fatalities. 

Between 2019 and 2023 alone, 540 Arizona drivers ages 15-24 were killed in crashes. That’s not just a number. Each fatality accounts for every family whose lives changed forever.

The risks we know and can prevent

The dangers aren’t mysterious. AAA, the National Highway Traffic Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have made clear:

Teen drivers face the highest crash risk: Drivers ages 16 to 19 have a fatal crash rate almost three times higher per mile driven than drivers 20 and older.

Distracted driving is an epidemic. Texting, scrolling and GPS use are all deadly when behind the wheel. Nearly 6 in 10 teen crashes involve distraction.

Seat belts and speed still matter. In 2023, 53% of teen drivers who died were not wearing seatbelts. Speeding is also a critical safety factor for teen drivers. More than one-third of fatal crashes involving 15- to 18-year-old drivers was in part caused by speeding in 2023.

What parents can do, starting today

You don’t need to be a lawyer to have a written agreement with your child. You just need to be a parent who wants to keep their kid alive. Make the rules and consequences clear. Use the free templates from AAA as a guide or make your own. If your teen follows the rules, reward them. If they don’t, follow through.

Be a coach when driving with your teen. They won’t want to drive with you if you yell. Point out hazards and reinforce defensive driving habits. Show them what it means to drive responsibly; no speeding, no running yellows, no rolling stops. And let’s not underestimate your influence. Your teen watches when you are behind the wheel. If you’re texting at the wheel or losing your cool in traffic, they notice. And they mirror it.

Summer should be carefree, not tragic 

The summer months should be filled with first jobs, beach days, and late-night fast-food runs. But for too many families, they end in tragedy. Don’t wait until July 4 or back-to-school season to talk to your teen, because the hardest thing I ever have to do is help a family pick up the pieces after it’s already too late.

Editor’s note: Marc Lamber is a director at the Am Law 200 firm Fennemore and chairs the Personal Injury Practice Group. Please send your comments to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.