(MyKeeneNow) – The New Hampshire Department of Safety’s Division of Motor Vehicles released its latest road safety statistics this week, revealing a concerning rise in fatal crashes this year.

As of September 23, 2024, there have been 100 deaths on New Hampshire roads, with young drivers particularly affected.

The report highlights that 10 of those fatalities involved drivers under the age of 21—a staggering 400 percent increase from the same period in 2023, when only three young drivers lost their lives. In comparison, just one driver between the ages of 16 and 20 died in 2022.

Police officials attribute most of the fatal incidents involving young drivers to distracted driving, a growing issue linked to cellphone use and other distractions behind the wheel. Distracted driving can encompass a range of behaviors, including talking to passengers, using a phone, or any activity that diverts a driver’s attention from the road.

The past weekend alone saw four young people, aged 16 to 21, lose their lives in crashes. On Friday, a 17-year-old from Antrim died after their vehicle veered off the road and hit a tree in Dublin. Two teenage passengers sustained injuries in the accident. In another tragic incident early Saturday morning, a 21-year-old driver was killed after crashing into a tree in Francestown. Later that same morning, an 18-year-old and a 21-year-old both died in a crash in New Ipswich.

In an effort to combat reckless driving, the Chesterfield Police Department conducted a high-visibility speed enforcement patrol on Route 9 this summer, resulting in 31 vehicle stops. Chesterfield’s Acting Chief Lance Rouse said the patrol was initiated in response to a series of severe accidents on Route 9 in July, including one that claimed two lives.

On a broader scale, officials from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and law enforcement agencies across New England launched a regional speed enforcement initiative aimed at curbing speeding on the East Coast. The New Hampshire Office of Highway Safety (NHOHS) has also ramped up efforts, urging drivers to reassess their habits in response to a recent spike in fatal crashes.

The agency continues to organize additional enforcement patrols across the state, while the New Hampshire State Police has increased monitoring and enforcement efforts on major highways and interstates to combat dangerous driving behaviors.