'100 Deadliest Days': Program in Fuquay-Varina prepares teens for dangerous summer driving season
FUQUAY-VARINA, N.C. (WTVD) -- As college students return home and high school students head into summer break, safety advocates are urging families to prepare for what's known as the "100 deadliest days" for teen drivers -- the stretch between Memorial Day and Labor Day when fatal crashes involving young drivers sharply increase.
This week, officers and instructors gathered for a StreetSafe driving event hosted by the Fuquay-Varina Police Department. The program gave teenagers hands-on experience behind the wheel and lessons on avoiding common risks.
Seventeen-year-old Elijah McLean said the experience helped him confront some of his biggest fears about driving.
"I was scared to get on the highway," he said, adding that he's learned to stay alert because "cars can be driving crazy sometimes."
His father, Latimer McLean, said he wanted to make sure his son had real-world training before spending more time on the road this summer.
"I wanted to make sure he was well equipped," he said.
StreetSafe instructor Todd Radabaugh said the program focuses on the most common causes of teen crashes: distraction, speeding and inexperience.
"We've talked to them about... how important it is to focus on the road at all times," Radabaugh said. "We're talking about speed and how quickly they can lose control of a car if they're going just a little bit too fast."
According to AAA, fatal crashes involving teen drivers rise significantly during the summer months. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports young drivers are about three times more likely to be involved in a deadly crash during this period compared with the rest of the year.
Radabaugh said the goal is to prevent tragedies before they happen.
"The best way to do that is to give young people the experience they need in a riskfree environment," he said.
Advocates say parents play a major role in shaping safe driving habits. They recommend setting clear rules about passengers, curfews and distracted driving, as well as modeling safe behavior.
Latimer said he hopes the lessons stick with his son.
"I'm excited to get him started, and hopefully he can teach his brother and sister how to be safe drivers," he said.
For teens, instructors emphasized the basics: always wear a seat belt, never drink and drive, avoid texting and stay focused on the road.
After completing the course, Elijah said the message was clear: don't speed and stay alert.
According to organizers, events like StreetSafe aim to give teens the confidence and skills they need, and ultimately save lives during the most dangerous driving season of the year.
