LANSING, Mich. — Parent of teen drivers fair warning.
Right now-- we are in the midst of what is being called the 100 Deadliest days for teenage drivers, and those who share the road with them.
Nearly 3,500 people over the past five years have been killed in crashes involving teen drivers during the 100 deadliest days.
Police say it's due to drinking and driving, speeding and distraction.
But it's not just distractions from the phone or radio-- police say it's also distracting passengers.
"The big thing with teens is having other teens in the car," said MSP Lt. Darren Green. "That tends to not let them pay attention to the task at hand which is driving."
AAA and state police say crashes for teen drivers increase at least 17% during the summer because teens are out of school.
"The kids just have more time on their hands that isn't school related," said Green.
Even if teens eliminated driving distractions, MSP says inexperience is another contributing factor to fatal crashes.
"Being to fast, following to closely, driving too fast on wet road ways even through they're not traveling the maximum posted speed limit," explained Green.
Parent and retired EMT Ray Hill, encourages moms and dads to talk with their teens about safe driving before it's too late.
"I caught my daughter driving distractedly and I had to take action," said Hill. "But fortunately we can talk about it sometimes it takes that tragedy to bring to light. My daughter had to loose two of her friends. I come from a small town. We all felt it."
But teens aren't the only ones at fault for deadly crashes, which has police urging parents to teach by example.
"Talk to them as an equal is number and talk to them about the problem like driving admitting that we are all part of the problem but we can also be part of the solution," said Hill.
During these 100 Deadliest Days, State Police will be cracking down on speeding, drinking and driving and distractions.
"we will have extra troopers out and other agencies across Michigan will have extra officers trying to get people to slow down and not be distracted and wear their safety belt"
State Police tell me the 100 Deadliest Days are starting on a slower note.
They reported 10 deadly crashes over Memorial Day Weekend this year. It was 10 last year.
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