SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — Driving around South Portland in late May, Kenny Dahms said the amount of drivers on the road is noticeably higher than in the winter months.
Dahms would know, as he is on the roads every day teaching many of the people responsible for that increase: teen drivers.
"Some of the best lessons are taught during the fall and winter," Dahms said.
Despite his preference, those aren't the months most teens choose to hit the roads. He believes parents are extra cautious during those times of the year, when weather conditions can worsen driving conditions.
"Now the winter's gone, they feel like it's safe to drive now," Dahms said.
Except statistically, according to AAA, clear skies don't bring safety, and this time of year is actually much more dangerous.
The term '100 deadliest days' wasn't coined by accident. During the 100-day stretch between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the likelihood of a teenager getting into a fatal car accident drastically increases, according to a report from AAA.
AAA spokesperson Pat Moody said there are many reasons for the increased risk, but one in particular stands out.
"You think that all these horrible things could risk your teen's life, but when it comes down to it, it could just be their best friend in the car that distracts them in those moments and something horrible happens," Moody said.
Teenagers tend to be more active in the summertime. When school is out, the majority of their routine disappears and they look for activities to fill up their free time, many of which require driving. Often, those tasks involve other teens, which is when the risk skyrockets.
AAA says adding just one young passenger to a car with a teen driver increases the crash risk by 44%, a number that continues to go up as you add more young passengers.
"Every added passenger adds another level of distraction," Dahms said, explaining why he thinks adding more passengers in the car increases the risk, specifically when they're young. "Crash rates drop drastically when they have an adult in the vehicle, which means it's very preventable."
More than half of teen driver crashes are the result of distraction, making it a focus for teachers like Dahms, both in the classroom and on the roads.
"You have to make them aware of what happens and how it happens so fast," Dahms said.
He added they work hard in driver's education to show students the risks and what a small distraction can do. When it comes to developing their driving, Dahms said he focuses on showing them how to observe surroundings, keep their focus, and react on time. Dahms explained these tasks, which are more like instincts than skills, are teachable, but only with practice and consistency, and the best way to learn is by doing.
"It's about as much experience as they can get in that 6 months between permit and license," Dahms said.
He encourages parents to give their children as many chances to drive as possible because those lessons can make all the difference.
It's also important to remember Maine has laws restricting newly licensed drivers and who they can have in the car, as well as what time of day they can be on the roads. You can read a summary on the Maine.gov website.