The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day, known as the “100 Deadliest Days” for teen drivers, marks a dangerous stretch on U.S. roads, with a sharp increase in crashes involving young motorists.

According to the AAA and data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), fatal crashes involving teen drivers rise by 30% during the summer months compared to the rest of the year. On average, eight people die each day in crashes involving teen drivers during this time.

“During the summer, teens are behind the wheel more often, often with friends in the car, which raises the risk of distractions and unsafe behavior,” said Rachel Wilson, Director of Driver Education for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Many feel invincible, but the consequences are real and often tragic.”

Key risk factors include distracted driving-especially from passengers and cell phone use-speeding, failure to wear seatbelts, and driving with other teen passengers. New teen drivers ages 16 to 17 are nearly three times more likely to be involved in fatal crashes than adults, AAA reports.

“Teens lack experience behind the wheel, and when that’s paired with risky behavior, it can be deadly,” said AAA spokeswoman Molly Hart. “Summer is the most dangerous season for teen drivers, and it’s critical that parents stay involved.”

AAA recommends parents model safe driving, provide at least 50 hours of supervised driving, teach defensive driving techniques, and set clear expectations through a parent-teen driving agreement.

The organization urges families to take these precautions seriously to help reduce the number of preventable tragedies on the road this summer.