Keeping Massachusetts Teens Safe Behind the Wheel This Summer

As Boston car accident lawyers, we see far too many families devastated by crashes that could have been prevented. That heartbreak is amplified when the at-fault driver is a teenager whose summer freedom turned into tragedy. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, a stretch the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) bluntly calls the “100 Deadliest Days” for young drivers, nearly half of all teen-related traffic deaths occur.

Our mission is to seek justice after a collision and to champion safety before disaster strikes. The latest joint campaign from the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) and AAA Northeast provides parents, teens, and the driving public with a clear roadmap for a safer season. Below, I share the key takeaways, add legal context every Bay State driver should know, and offer practical steps to keep teen motorists and everyone around them safe.

Why Summer Is So Dangerous for Young Drivers

School’s out, schedules are looser, and teens log more miles shuttling to summer jobs, beaches, and late-night gatherings. With increased mileage comes increased risks:

Inexperience. A 16- or 17-year-old has not faced the variety of traffic scenarios an adult has.
Passengers. Studies show the likelihood of a fatal crash rises with each additional teen in the car.
Distractions. Nearly six in ten teen wrecks involve distraction; cell phones and interactive dashboards are constant temptations.
Speed. Almost 30 percent of deadly teen crashes involve excessive speed.
Seat-belt neglect. Buckling up remains the single most straightforward way to cut fatal-injury risk in half—yet belt use among teens lags every other age group.

The Legal Landscape in Massachusetts

Graduated Licensing (GDL). Massachusetts’ Junior Operator License (JOL) system phases in full driving privileges. For the first six months after licensing, teens may not carry passengers under 18 (except immediate family members) unless a licensed driver over 21 is in the front seat. Breaking this rule can result in license suspension, mandatory retraining, and substantial fines.
Hands-Free Law. Since 2020, it has been illegal for any driver, teen or adult, to hold a phone or other electronic device while operating a vehicle. Teens cited under the law face doubled penalties and mandatory driver-attitude retraining.
Zero-Tolerance for Impaired Driving. Any driver under 21 with a Blood Alcohol Concentration of .02 percent or higher is considered impaired. Refusal to submit to a breath test triggers an automatic 180-day license suspension for junior operators.

Because civil liability and potential criminal charges differ from administrative RMV penalties, families often turn to our firm for guidance when a young driver is involved in a crash. Knowing the rules is the first step toward avoiding that knock on the door.

Cannabis Is Impairment, Too

Massachusetts’ recreational-use statute does not make it legal or safe to drive high. AAA Northeast’s “Shifting Gears” curriculum helps teens recognize that slowed reaction times, lane-weaving, and divided attention from marijuana or other drugs are no less dangerous than drunk driving. Under Massachusetts General Laws c. 90, § 24, drug-impaired drivers face the same fines, jail exposure, and license repercussions as drunk drivers.

How Parents Can Tip the Scales Toward Safety

Model the behavior you expect. If I speed, glance at a text, or fail to buckle my seatbelt, I silently permit my kids to do the same. Commit as a family to distraction-free, sober, seat-belted driving.
Practice, practice, practice. The JOL statute requires 40 hours of supervised driving before a road test; AAA and the RMV recommend at least 50. Use that time to coach defensive habits, such as scanning mirrors, anticipating light changes, and maintaining a safe following distance.
Set a written Parent-Teen Driving Agreement. Spell out curfews, passenger limits, permitted destinations, and the non-negotiable rule that the keys stay home if your teen cannot drive sober. Outline both consequences for violations and rewards for safe behavior, then revisit the agreement as your teen gains experience.
Vet professional transportation. For proms, graduations, and summer parties, confirm that any hired limousine or party bus carries a valid Department of Public Utilities certificate, enforces a strict no-underage-alcohol policy, and has a plan to prevent impaired driving.

Tips Every Teen Should Memorize

Phone goes in the glove box. Out of sight, out of mind. 
Two-second following distance? Make it four. Extra space buys extra reaction time when you misjudge another driver’s moves.
One loud passenger can wait. If friends won’t respect your focus, drop them off.
Every belt, every time. Drivers are legally responsible for unbelted passengers under 16 and morally responsible for everyone on board.
Call for a ride. Parents would rather be “inconvenienced” at 2 a.m. than meet troopers at an accident scene.

When Crashes Happen, We’re Here

Even the best preparation cannot eliminate every risk. Swift action is critical if a collision occurs, whether your teen was injured or accused of causing harm. Preserving evidence, securing witness statements, and navigating RMV, insurance, and potential criminal proceedings require the expertise of experienced counsel.

At Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers, we pair compassionate guidance with aggressive advocacy. Our team thoroughly investigates the fault, leverages the expertise of accident reconstruction specialists, and pursues full compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain, and any lifelong limitations. If your family faces this ordeal, call us 24/7 at (617) 777-7777 or contact us through our secure online form.

A Shared Responsibility

Registrar Colleen Ogilvie put it perfectly: road safety is a collective duty. When parents coach, teens commit, and the wider community respects speed limits, eliminates distractions, and drives sober, our roads become safer for everyone.

Let’s work together, families, schools, community groups, and legal advocates, to ensure that the only summer memories our Massachusetts teens carry into adulthood are happy ones. Stay alert, stay considerate, and stay safe.