Now that summer is here, you may have noticed that there has been an influx
of young drivers on the road now that school is out of session. Unfortunately,
car accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers ages 15 to 20.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately
six teenagers die every day in motor vehicle crashes. On average, nearly
one million teens are involved in car collisions each year, resulting
in 2,865 deaths and 383,000 injuries.
The following are the most common causes of teen car accidents:
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Driver inexperience – Driving experience comes with time and plenty of practice. It
can take years before new drivers feel comfortable behind the wheel. Teenagers
who are driving for the first time are not as skilled at driving in various
weather and traffic conditions, as well as during the evenings.
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Distracted driving – Younger generations, from an early age, have been introduced to
and immersed in cellphones and social media, making interactivity second
nature. The Children’s Hospital found that approximately 20 percent
of teen driving accidents could be caused by distractions moments before
a crash. Not only can cellphones and texting cause a teen driver to be
distracted, but also driving with friends in the car has shown to put
teens at greater risk of collision.
-
Drinking and driving – Not only is drunk driving dangerous for adults, but especially
for teen drivers. According to MADD, about one out of four fatal teen
driver car accidents involving underage drinking and driving. Additionally,
nearly 60 percent of young drivers involved in a fatal drunk driving accident
didn’t use a seatbelt.
-
Reckless driving – Speeding is a common problem among teen drivers. When paired together
with driver inexperience, plenty of accidents can occur. Common examples
include coming around a turn too fast or failing to leave more space to
stop in wet or icy conditions. Not only can reckless behavior cause accidents,
it is also a crime (just like drunk driving and distracted driving).
So before you hand over the car keys to your teenager, you need to be aware
of the dangers and facts about teen drivers.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident in Fort Worth,
request a free consultation with the
Law Office of James M. Stanley today.