(June 26, 2013) NORTHBROOK, Ill. — Independence Day is typically a time for barbecues, family gatherings, and celebrating the birth of our nation, however, for many travelers this holiday it may end in tragedy. According to research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), July 4 is now the deadliest day on the road for all Americans.

In the U.S., car crashes are the number one cause of death for everyone ages 1-34, with teens crashing four times more often than any other age group. Based on the latest available data, IIHS reports that more than 670 people were killed on July 4 from 2007-2011, which equates to an average of 134 deaths on that day each year.

Teens accounted for six percent of the driving fatalities on July 4, but continue to be particularly susceptible to distracted driving incidents. Recent research from The Allstate Foundation found that 75 percent of teens admit that they find reading and responding to texts distracting behind-the-wheel, which is up significantly from the 49 percent reported by teens in 2009.

"Putting down the phone, never texting while driving and always wearing a safety belt can help make sure that everyone returns home safely after their Independence Day celebrations," said Sanjay Gupta, executive vice president of marketing, innovation and corporate relations at Allstate.

"It's great to see that teens are evolving in their behavior and perceptions around texting, but our research still found that 39 percent of teen drivers admit to texting behind the wheel and six percent say they do it a lot.  This demonstrates the need for programs that educate about the dangers of distracted driving."