100 Deadliest Days of Summer are here

VW independent staff/submitted information

CLEVELAND — High level state officials met in Cleveland on Monday to remind motorists of the direct connection between rising summer temperatures and an increase in vehicle crashes.

 Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) Superintendent Col. Charles Jones, and Ohio Traffic Safety Office Director Emily Davidson visited Cuyahoga County today to remind motorists of the direct connection between rising summer temperatures and an uptick in vehicle crashes.

Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day is often characterized by law enforcement across the country as the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer” due to the increases in serious-injury and fatal crashes during the summer months. 

“The Ohio State Highway Patrol estimates that around one-third of total traffic fatalities in any given year normally happen between the end of May and the beginning of September,” Governor DeWine Mike DeWine said. “I encourage all motorists to do their part in promoting traffic safety by buckling up and never driving distracted or impaired.”

During this time period last year, a total of 67,847 crashes occurred on Ohio’s roadways and 384 people were killed, including 123 people who were not wearing a seatbelt, 104 people who had been riding a motorcycle, 37 pedestrians, and 28 teenagers. 

The increased risk of serious injury and fatal crashes during this time of year is attributed to several factors, including increased driving time, increased distractions, and driver inexperience.

• Increased driving time – School is out, and teens have more unstructured time, which leads to more driving, often times with friends in the vehicle.
• Increased distractions – Distracted driving, including phone use and multiple passengers being in the vehicle, increases the risk of a serious crash.
• Driver inexperience – Statistics show that teen drivers are more likely to be involved in a crash due to their inexperience.

“Summer often marks the first real taste of independence for teen drivers. But that freedom comes with real risks,” Ohio Traffic Safety Office Director Emily Davidson said. “We are urging parents to talk early and often with their young drivers about safe habits and to set firm expectations around passengers, nighttime driving, and a zero tolerance for impaired driving.”

Of all fatal crashes during the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer” in 2025, more than half involved someone driving under the influence. Throughout the entirety of 2025, there were 540 fatal crashes that could have been avoided if an individual had made the decision not to drive impaired by drugs or alcohol.

“With more vehicles on the road in the summer, there is a greater responsibility for every driver to use caution when behind the wheel,” said Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) Superintendent Col. Charles Jones. “By staying focused and driving sober, you can help prevent tragedies before they occur. Safety begins long before a driver gets behind the wheel. It starts with the choices an individual makes before consuming any drug that impairs their judgement, or before that first sip of alcohol.”

The “100 Deadliest Days of Summer” also encompasses the primary motorcycle riding months. According to OSHP statistics, more than half of all motorcycle-involved crashes last year occurred during this timeframe. Drivers are encouraged to look twice for motorcyclists before turning and share the road.

Additionally, motorists are encouraged to take extra precautions while driving in construction zones. According to the Ohio Department of Transportation, work zone crashes increased 11 percent in 2025. Approximately 34 percent of all work zone crashes are due to drivers following too close. From 2021-2025, 103 people were killed in work zones, including seven workers and 96 drivers/passengers.

Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers will be highly visible on roadways across the state this summer, promoting traffic safety for all those who live in and travel through Ohio. In 2025, troopers made 4,596 OVI arrests, issued 18,259 seat belt citations, and cited 7,567 motorists for driving with a suspended license during the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer.