Let’s start with an apology — Jim and I haven’t contributed to this column in a few weeks. There are no excuses, we’ve had the summer lazies. School is out, the sun has been pretty hot, and while we’re both working, it’s at a slower pace. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) calls the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day the “100 Deadliest Days” because car crashes soar during the summer months, especially for teen drivers. So, this morning, when we heard that one of my daughter’s friends was in a terrible car accident, the teacher and the mom (that’s us), decided to get back in gear and write this piece.

My kid’s friend is OK. Her car was totaled, and she suffered a concussion. No one else was injured, but it was a close call. But since we’re not out of the water for the 100 deadliest days yet, we thought we’d reach out to the community with a friendly public service announcement … Watch the fudge out!

Over 6 million vehicle accidents are reported a year and 43,000 are fatal. It may not seem like much, but it means that several people we know each year will get into an accident. Summer is especially dangerous for a lot of reasons. More teens are out of school and on the road, and there are more distractions, including construction, traffic and pretty outdoor scenery.

My daughter explained that her friend is an aggressive driver and tailgates too much. She worries about her driving too fast and irresponsibly. “Can anyone become a better driver?” she asked. I gulped. “Pay better attention, I said.” As someone who lived in New York City without a car most of my life, I am also guilty of some driving transgressions. Last year, I was shaking in my boots when I had to go to Ulster County traffic court over a ticket for texting while driving. The judge was kind, it was my first time in this situation, and I was clearly sorry. But she didn’t let me get away with it either. Jim — Kingston’s biggest rules follower — sat with me. He warned me with a stern look, “This is serious,” while I stood up to face the judge, getting caught in my purse strap and awkwardly wondering where to leave it … even she laughed at me! I explained to my daughter that I am trying to be better, and it starts with being present. I put that phone away. I concentrate on the road and think about what’s happening around me. It’s another way to practice mindfulness.

But what else can folks do to protect themselves and their kids from the Deadliest Days? One hint is in the details of the data. Most accidents happen on Friday, Saturday or Sunday nights, and according to the NHTSA, 56 percent of drivers involved in serious injury and fatal crashes tested positive for at least one drug. While everyone knows drunk driving is dangerous, with the increase in cannabis use, we need to let people know that they shouldn’t be driving under the influence. A Boston University Study shares that cannabis-related crashes more than doubled from 9 percent in 2000 to 22 percent in 2018. “But I drive better when I’m stoned!” is a common teen response. Jim says “no way.” Marijuana, like alcohol, slows coordination, judgment and reaction times. Combine that with fast driving, tailgating or driving in distracting conditions, and you have a high-risk ride home.

Another tip: Don’t speed! About a third of deadly accidents were linked to excess speed and men are more likely to speed than women. Where are you men all rushing to, by the way? It’s certainly not to wash the dishes, do laundry or make dinner, so slow down! It can wait!

A final tip that Jim taught both me and my daughter is the three-second rule to set a safe following distance. Find a “marker” on the roadside. When the car in front of you passes it, start counting from zero to three. If you reach the marker at the count of three, you’re keeping a safe three-second following distance. If not, slow down. If it’s raining, snowing or dark out, count to six instead. Anything less than this will make the driver in front of you anxious and will put you both at risk if they need to slow down suddenly.

In summary, if you’re going to drive, watch the fudge out, stay the fudge sober, slow the fudge down and don’t tailgate. It’s that easy to look out for each other and each other’s kids. And while you’re at it, enjoy the last lazy days of summer!

Barbara Magnoni and Jim Rich are Kingston Wire subscribers, and co-founders of the Hudson Valley Plant Exchange, living in Kingston. Rich is a coach and health teacher at Kingston High School.