The Deadliest Days of Summer

For the purpose of this article, we’re looking at a summer period of June 20, 2021, through Sept. 22, 2021. During this time, a total of 12,090 people were killed in car accidents. But what was the deadliest day?

The deadliest day for driving during this period was Aug. 7, when 203 traffic fatalities occurred, followed by July 31 (181 deaths) and Sept. 11 (174 deaths). The average from June 20 to Sept. 22, the technical start and end of summer, was 126 traffic deaths per day.

The number of traffic fatalities was fairly stable throughout the summer, aside from a peak in early August, when many more people are enjoying the weather and taking vacations.¹ The spike on the Fourth of July, which was the fourth-deadliest day of the summer, is reflective of 172 deaths on the holiday.

Fatal Crashes Involving Teen Drivers

Teen drivers have the highest crash rates of any age group due to their lack of driving experience. However, because there are fewer teen drivers on the road compared with other age groups, fewer teens died in traffic deaths in the summer of 2021 compared with other age groups.

That said, the deadliest day for teen drivers was a three-way tie, with June 25, Sept. 10 and Sept. 11 having 16 deaths each — double the summer’s average for drivers ages 15 to 19. In some areas of the country, these dates correlate with the end of school in June, when more kids are on the road, and the beginning of school in September.

The circumstances surrounding these summer traffic fatalities tell us something about their causes.

Alcohol Impairment

Alcohol impairment, where the highest driver blood alcohol concentration was above the legal limit of 0.08 percent, was involved in 32 percent of summer traffic fatalities in 2021.

It’s worth noting that drivers with DUIs on their records will have a harder time finding affordable insurance even if they didn’t cause deaths or injuries, so it’s best to always drive sober to avoid motor vehicle crashes.

Speeding

Speeding was involved in 22 percent of all traffic deaths in the summer of 2021. Unfortunately, a speeding ticket can stay on your record for years or even permanently, depending on the state where you’re licensed.

Nighttime Driving

Driving is more dangerous at night due to a lack of visibility. That same summer, 44 percent of traffic fatalities occurred during dark conditions, for a total of 5,305 deaths.

Weather

Atmospheric conditions, such as rain, were involved in 24 percent of all traffic crashes in summer 2021.

Distracted and Drowsy Driving

Less-common causes of traffic fatalities in the summer of 2021 included distracted driving, which was involved in 6 percent of deaths, and drowsy driving, which was involved in 1 percent.

Teen Drivers

Across the board, teens have higher crash rates than any other age group, but this issue is exacerbated in the summer, when many of them are out of school. It should be noted, though, that many traffic fatalities attributed to teen drivers aren’t a result of reckless driving but rather driving errors. In 37 percent of all teen driver crashes that summer, errors occurred, such as rear-ending another vehicle, turning into another vehicle at an intersection, or edging off the road.² Believe it or not, these behaviors aren’t considered reckless driving.

If you’re involved in a car crash this summer or any time of year, follow these steps:

1. Pull over. Pull over to a safe place so you are out of harm’s way.
2. Call 911. You’ll want to call 911 if anyone is injured, but even with no injuries, you’ll probably want a police report for your insurance claim.
3. Document the damage. Take pictures of vehicle damage to use in your claim.
4. Exchange information. Get the other driver’s name, address, phone number, insurance information, and other relevant details you can use in your claim, like their car make, model and year; where the crash occurred; the time of day, and the weather.
5. Make a police report. If the police cannot come to the scene, file an accident report at the closest police department. Regardless of whether you deal with the cops at the crash site or a precinct, make sure to ask all officers involved to give you their badge numbers and names. Also, ask for a copy of the accident report.
6. Submit your claim. File your claim online, through the mail, or over the phone with your insurance agent. An adjuster will determine the fault and payouts. The process works the same way whether you were at full, partial, or no fault.³
7. Get your car repaired. Get an estimate from a repair shop to see how much the repairs will cost.
8. Wait for your payment. If the adjuster determines the other party was at fault, you will get compensated through a third-party claim against the other party’s liability coverage. If their property damage limit isn’t high enough or if the accident was your fault, you can use your collision coverage for reimbursement. However, if you lack collision insurance and the accident was your fault, you’ll have to pay to repair or replace your car entirely out of pocket.

1. Don’t be distracted. Avoid poor driving behaviors, like distracted driving, whether due to passengers in the back seat, social media use, or texting. Put your cell phone away, or turn on “Do not disturb” mode.
2. Buckle up. Putting on your seat belt could save your life and prevent injuries from being severe.
3. Drive during the day. The safest time to drive is during the daytime, so avoid driving at night if you can.
4. Obey the speed limit. Drive at or below the speed limit, especially in construction zones. Speeding is one of many risky behaviors young drivers are more likely to engage in.
5. Stay sober. Driving drunk, or even buzzed, is illegal and dangerous.

Want to learn more about the likelihood of car crashes during the warmest months? Check out these Labor Day accident statistics. Or, keep reading our frequently asked questions below to learn when car accidents are most likely to happen, who gets into car accidents the most, and where most car accidents occur.