Seat belt use among teens appears to dip during the last few months of the school year.

The percentage of traffic deaths involving drinking teen drivers also jumps during the same period, according to Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) data.

Although the prom through graduation period isn’t the deadliest period for Minnesota’s 16–19-year olds — 31 were killed 2004–2006 — traffic death data during April–June reveals that potential for tragedy is ripe as a result of seat belt nonuse and drinking and driving. In April–June during 2004–2006, 71 percent of teen vehicle occupants killed in crashes were not belted.

In comparison to the rest of the year, 58 percent of teens killed were not buckled up.