To many, the Memorial Day weekend holiday is the gateway to summer. It is a time like no other for many high-school kids, college grads (and those in college) because they are able to spend much more time with friends and travel.
While many kids see the summer as a time to have fun, it is also known as a dangerous time; especially considering that young people are apt to experiment with drugs and alcohol. Add in the proclivity for teens to text while driving, and this is why law enforcement agencies across North Carolina refer to these days as the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that the number of traffic accidents and traffic accident deaths grows during the summer months. Moreover, more than half of the motorists who lose their lives in auto accidents are under the age of 25.
Yes, there will be an increase in police patrols looking for drunk drivers as well as distracted drivers, but aside from the criminal context, there is a civil aspect that drivers must be aware of. All drivers on North Carolina roads are charged with the responsibility of using reasonable care while behind the wheel. This means that they must drive as a reasonable person would by obeying speed laws, limiting distractions and refraining from using mood altering drugs such as alcohol before driving.
If a driver fails to use reasonable care, and such a failure results in an accident, the offending driver could be held liable for the crash. With that, we hope young drivers take heed to the dangers of the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer.