COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The stretch between now and Labor Day is known as the 100 deadliest days of the year for teenagers. 

According to AAA, as school winds down, crashes involving teenagers increase, which is why they’re warning teen drivers to keep their eyes on the road. 

Jason Hofmann is a former Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper who was hit by a distracted driver while on duty back in 2019 and is now taking his knowledge and sharing it with some of the newest drivers.

Hofmann has been an instructor at the AAA’s Worthington location for two years and said that teaching teens how to drive is his biggest priority right now, as he knows firsthand about the dangers of distracted driving. 

During his time as a trooper, Hofmann said that he did notice an increase in teen crashes during this 100 day stretch because teens often have a lot of unstructured time in the summer months. 

He can still remember the first deadly teen crash he investigated, which is why it’s so important for him to do what he can to help the next generation of drivers. 

“The biggest goal is to see everyone enjoy themselves, but get to where they’re going and then make it home,” Hofmann said. “Your loved ones are counting on you. Driving is a big responsibility. You are driving a couple of thousand-pound missile, I like to refer to it as. It needs to be respected as such.”

Back in 2019, Hofmann was out on an assignment when he was hit by a distracted driver. He was left hospitalized for four weeks and unable to walk for 10. After realizing he could no longer continue his work as a trooper, he found a new passion: teaching the next generation the rules of the road. 

“It was hard,” he said. “I mean, I really wanted to go back to full duty to help kind of show my coworkers how you can overcome something like that. But it just wasn’t in the cards for me and I’m taking that experience and trying to help teach younger drivers to avoid some situations like that, so hopefully this doesn’t happen to anyone else.”

According to data from the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP), there were more than 9,000 teen-related crashes in Ohio between Memorial Day and Labor Day of 2023; 37 of those crashes were fatal. Taking a closer look at the data, OSHP said Franklin County came in third in the state with 701 teen-related crashes. 

Because of this, AAA is encouraging teens to stay focused, buckle up and drive within posted speed limits. 

Hofmann also recommends parents establish a parent-teen driving agreement that sets rules for teen drivers. He says it’s never too early to start talking to kids about the dangers of driving distracted or impaired. 

AAA’s location in Worthington is also handing out bracelets and lanyards to teen drivers reminding them to “Slow Down. Speak Up. and Stay Alert.”  Hofmann said it’s okay to hold your friends and family responsible if they’re driving distracted so that everyone can have a safe and fun summer.