South Carolina’s ‘100 Deadliest Days’ Are Here: What Every Teen Driver’s Parent Needs to Know

When it comes to teen safety on South Carolina roads, not all days are created equal. Teen driver crashes spike in the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The “100 Deadliest Days” of summer see teen driver crashes spike 14 percent.

The 100 Deadliest Days pose challenges for teen drivers. School is out, days are longer, and more teens drive for work and summer travel. Distractions, both inside and outside the vehicle, increase. These factors combine to produce more collisions, injuries, and deaths.

Here, we break down what makes the 100 Deadliest Days so dangerous and what to do if your teen is in a crash. While Steinberg Law Firm is not directly involved in any case described in this article, we do work to help clients throughout South Carolina after serious road wrecks.

South Carolina’s Summer Crash Data & Trends

South Carolina’s death rates during the 100 Deadliest Days have increased in recent years. For example, Memorial Day 2025 saw eight deaths on South Carolina roads, compared to six deaths in 2024 and two in 2023.

• In 2026, South Carolina saw seven roadway deaths over Independence Day weekend, six deaths the weekend of June 26 to June 28, and four deaths on the weekend of July 10 through July 12. 
• As the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) notes, this trend is “concerning.” South Carolina’s increase in total holiday traffic deaths pushes against downward trends nationwide. Total summer crash deaths dropped in the US from 2023 to 2024.

The slight downward trend nationwide in summer crash deaths hides a disturbing fact: Teen deaths during these months are actually rising, not falling. In 2024, summer teen driver deaths jumped to 635 nationwide, up from 542 the previous year. Currently, teens account for 6.1 percent of all summer driving deaths nationwide. That’s up from 4.8 percent just a few years ago.

Why Are Teens at Greater Risk in the Summer?

As recent SCDPS news reports show, South Carolina’s roads are risky in the summer. Yet teens may be at even greater risk than the average adult driver.

Several factors make driving riskier for teens, especially in the summer. 

• Lack of experience behind the wheel makes teens more likely to underestimate stopping distance, miss signs of danger, or make critical errors that trigger a collision.
• Distraction is especially dangerous for young drivers, who lack the experience to compensate for it and who often don’t understand the risks. 
• Teens may not wear a seat belt, putting them at higher risk of serious harm or death in a wreck. To learn more about SC seatbelt laws, see SC Section 56-5-6520.
• Nighttime driving can be especially dangerous for teens. Inexperience, fatigue, and distractions combine with low visibility, moving wildlife, and other road risks to put teens in danger. The CDC estimates that the fatal crash rate for teen drivers at night is three times higher than that for adult drivers.

In South Carolina, higher speeds on rural roads can make summer driving riskier for teens. Longer daylight hours give teens more time to be on the road, but they also lead to fatigue. Other travelers are more likely to be on the roads as well, creating congestion. South Carolina’s summer weather, including summer’s hurricane season, makes safe driving even more challenging for new drivers.

South Carolina’s S.988, School Attendance and Teen Driving Privileges in the Lowcountry

Teen drivers in Charleston and North Charleston, South Carolina, already face a lot: busy roads like I-26, heavy weekend traffic, and the pressure to keep up with friends, so any law that nudges safety and responsibility matters.

A recent South Carolina bill, S.988 (Session 115), ties driving privileges for teens under 18 to school attendance, reminding families across the Lowcountry that a license is a privilege that comes with real expectations, at home, at school, and behind the wheel. You can read the Statehouse summary here. 

For parents, this is a good time to revisit the basics with your teen: no phone use while driving, no extra passengers at first, always buckle up, and drive as if you expect someone to pull out onto Rivers Avenue without looking. If you want a clear breakdown of South Carolina’s graduated licensing steps, the SCDMV’s teen driver page is also a helpful reference.

What South Carolina Law Says About Teen Drivers

South Carolina’s Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system creates driving restrictions for teens. These restrictions are designed to ease teens into the responsibility of driving, giving them time to gain essential experience.

To help teens stay focused on the road, South Carolina’s GDL rules restrict the number of passengers they can transport. 

• A teen with a Conditional or Special Restricted license cannot carry more than two passengers who are under age 21, unless a licensed adult age 21 or older is also in the car. The only exception is for teen drivers transporting family members or carpooling students to and from school.
• Teen drivers on a Conditional or Special Restricted license may drive alone from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. while Daylight Saving Time is in effect (typically mid-March through early November). During standard time, the solo driving window ends at 6 p.m. Between 6 p.m. (or 8 p.m. during daylight saving time) and midnight, teen drivers with a Conditional or Special Restricted license may drive if a licensed driver at least 21 years old is in the vehicle with them.

Teen drivers in South Carolina must also follow the state’s distracted driving, cell phone use, and seat belt laws. Effective September 1, 2025, South Carolina’s Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act (2025 Act No. 40) restricts the use of handheld mobile devices while driving under SC Code § 56-5-3890. Drivers should consult the full text of the amended statute at scstatehouse.gov for specific provisions, exceptions, and enforcement timelines. To learn more about restrictions on beginner permits, see Section 56-1-50.

Tips for Parents: Keeping Teens Safe During the 100 Deadliest Days

Raising a teen is often a balancing act. As a parent, you’d do anything to keep your teen safe – yet you know that letting your teen exercise some independence now, when they still have you to consult, helps them build safe and healthy habits for their adult life.

Use summer driving to help your teen build these habits. Set clear rules for summer driving. For instance, work with your teen to agree on a curfew, keeping South Carolina’s driving laws in mind. Discuss the law’s passenger limits. Is having two friends in the car too many for your teen, or can they handle the responsibility? Discuss how to deal with cell phones and other distractions while driving. Set clear consequences for breaking these agreed-upon rules.

Parents of teens know how hard it is to dictate terms to their growing kids. Often, the best way to teach your teen safe driving habits is to lead by example. Always buckle up and expect all your passengers to do the same. Make sure your own cell phone and other devices are safely stowed or connected to in-vehicle systems before you put the vehicle in drive. Pull over if you need to make a phone call or consult your device screen. Speak up about unsafe situations and encourage your teens to do the same.

Finally, consider using monitoring or safety apps. These apps let you keep track of your teen and their driving habits.

What to Do If Your Teen Is Involved in a Summer Crash

“I’m calling about your child. There’s been an accident.” No parent wants to hear these words. If your family faces this misfortune, however, you can take steps to protect your teen and their rights.

• Put safety first. Check for injuries and call 911. Seek medical attention as soon as possible.
• At the scene. Exchange names, addresses, and insurance info with others involved in the wreck and with witnesses. Document the scene with photos, video, or dashcam footage.

Consider teaching your teen how to take these steps in advance, so they’ll know what to do if a collision happens. In your driveway, walk them through each step. First, get to a safe place. Then, call 911 or ask someone else to do so. Next, talk to others at the scene and take photos.

If there are injuries or insurance disputes, reach out to a South Carolina car accident attorney. Never speak with an insurance carrier. Carriers don’t always have your best interests in mind; it’s best to speak with an attorney about a recent crash. A lawyer can help you navigate the personal injury claim process and protect your legal rights.

Community & Law Enforcement Efforts to Prevent Summer Teen Crashes

If you’re worried about your teen driver this summer, you’re not alone. SCDPS has several campaigns to inform teen drivers and their families, as well as to keep South Carolina’s roads safer in the summer. State and local police often increase patrols and DUI enforcement during the summer months. Schools and communities often work to increase awareness efforts as well.

If you want to get involved, look for teen driving safety courses and get-togethers in your area. One option is the Southeastern Chapter of the National Safety Council, which offers “Alive at 25” defensive driving courses for teen and young adult drivers between the ages of 15 and 24. Groups like the American Automobile Association (AAA) and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) may also welcome volunteer efforts to make the roads safer for young drivers.

Many Charleston-area high schools also hold safe driving events during the school year. For instance, in 2024, Wando High School allowed teens to participate in a distracted driving simulator to show them the dangers of distraction behind the wheel. Connect with your teen’s school to find out if the district has any similar events planned for the coming school year and to volunteer to get involved.

Prioritizing Safety During South Carolina’s 100 Deadliest Days

Keeping our teens safe on South Carolina roads is a group effort. Set clear rules with your teens and support safe choices by leading by example. Have ongoing conversations about safe driving, and get involved in community events. Together, we can help our teens have a safe summer on our state’s roads.

Every parent hopes their teen stays safe on the road. In a crash situation, don’t try to push through alone. If you need more information or legal help after a summer crash, contact Steinberg Law Firm.