MALVERN, PA — Independence Day is typically a time for barbecues, family gatherings and celebrating the birth of the 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 6 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.

“There are simple things everyone can do this July 4 to stay safe such as never texting and driving,” said Julia Reusch, Allstate spokesperson. “It may sound basic but buckling up and driving within the speed limit are also important ways to stay safe this July 4.”

Additional findings from The Allstate Foundation include:

— Teens still admit to texting: 39 percent of teen drivers admit to texting behind the wheel and 6 percent say they do it a lot.

— Teens are watching: 54 percent of teens reported seeing their parents using a phone while driving, up from 37 percent in 2009.

— Do as I say, not as I do: Interestingly, only 32 percent of parents admit to making and answering phone calls while driving.

— Teens feel comfortable speaking up: 87 percent of teens say they would speak up in a car with someone who was driving in a way that made them feel scared or uncomfortable, up from 59 percent in 2009.

Allstate urges Americans to do their part to make roads safer for all families during the Independence Day holiday. Here are three simple ways that parents and teens can help to have a safe holiday:

— Talk together about driving early and often. Parents should discuss the risks and responsibilities of driving with your child at a young age, and keep talking with their teen before, during and after the licensing process.

— Don’t rush the training process. Just because teens have a permit or license doesn’t mean they are ready for every driving condition. By easing into the training process, both parents and teens will feel assured they are more prepared for a variety of driving situations.

— Never text or drive distracted. Parents should be positive role models when they’re behind the wheel. All drivers can pledge not to text and drive, and help reduce distracted driving deaths and injuries. Parents and teens can take the pledge together at www.facebook.com/ XtheTXT.

FOR MORE information about The Allstate Foundation’s teen driving research, visit www.allstatefoundation.org.