In Western and Central New York, summer is something people look forward to all year. Warmer weather means more time outside, more travel, and for many teens, more time behind the wheel. It’s also when crash risk tends to rise.

According to a AAA review of national crash data, more than 30% of fatal crashes involving teen drivers and nearly one-third of all impaired-driving fatalities occur between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

But for Lindsay Tomidy, coordinator of Monroe County’s STOP-DWI program, those statistics aren’t abstract. They’re rooted in a reality she has lived and in the kind of everyday decision-making that can change everything.

In April 2001, Tomidy's brother Ryan Merritt was 17 years old, weeks away from graduating from Hilton High School and preparing to attend SUNY Fredonia. During Spring Break, he spent a night out with friends and consumed too much alcohol. He had a designated driver drop him back at home but later made the decision to get back behind the wheel.

“After he was dropped off, left to his own mind, he thought he was okay to drive to a friend's house,” Tomidy explained. “And that's where things ended up more tragic.” 

He died in a car crash after getting behind the wheel while impaired.

The difference between a close call and a tragedy can be smaller than we like to believe. The decisions that lead to a crash don't always feel significant in the moment, but they often determine what happens next. In Monroe County, about 94 percent of crashes involve human factors—decisions like speeding, distracted driving, or driving while impaired.

For teen drivers, those risks can be amplified by something that isn't reflected in crash reports: inexperience. Tomidy noted that the part of the brain that controls planning, decision-making, impulse control, and emotional regulation does not fully develop until around age 25. 

That’s where adults can play an important role. Teens are often learning what safe driving looks like by watching the people around them.

“Those little things can have a huge impact in the thought process that they have behind the wheel of a car,” Tomidy said. 

Beyond inexperience, Tomidy said social dynamics can also influence decisions behind the wheel. Local survey data has shown that many teens have ridden as passengers with someone who was impaired. Most teens recognize the risk, but speaking up or finding another ride isn't always easy in the moment.

Planning ahead can help, but Tomidy’s own experience underscores that it isn’t always enough on its own. Her brother had a designated driver that night but later chose to get behind the wheel.

That’s why she emphasizes having conversations before situations unfold—about what to do, what to watch for, and how alcohol or other substances can affect judgment. Those decisions rarely feel as clear in the moment as they do beforehand.

For families, those conversations can be as simple as setting expectations early. Some parents emphasize a “call me anytime” approach, making it clear that getting home safely matters more than avoiding trouble. 

“And I actually joke with that a little bit when I talk to teens in high schools, I say, if your parent is not on board with that, feel free to have them call me and I will talk to them about why that is a better choice,” Tomidy said.

The advice Tomidy gives teens comes from both her professional and personal experience.

“You have the power to make the right choices,” Tomidy said. “You have the power to have an amazing summer and celebrate without putting yourself at risk.”

Years after losing her brother, Tomidy continues sharing his story in the hope that other families never have to experience a similar loss. It's a reminder that safe driving often comes down to small decisions—and that those decisions matter.