Memorial Day weekend kicked off what is often referred to by traffic safety experts as "the 100 deadliest days," with a dangerous spike in teen traffic fatalities.

According to a AAA review of crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, on average eight people are killed per day in teen-involved driving crashes in the summer, compared to seven per day during the rest of the year.

There are steps teens and parents can take to save lives. Parents should model safe driving behavior and talk with their teens about buckling up, obeying speed limits, and putting phones away. With teens out of school, summer is also a great time for young drivers to complete a comprehensive driver education course to learn the rules of the road.

We want all Michigan teens to have a safe summer. Buckle up, put your phone down and obey the speed limit because someone depends on you to make it home safely! For additional resources for Teen Drivers, visit the Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP): Michigan.gov/msp/divisions/ohsp/safety-programs/teen-drivers.