New Drivers Face More Risks
The Stark Reality
Although there are new drivers in all age groups, by far the bulk of new drivers are the teen drivers. The leading cause of death amongst people aged 15 to 20 years is motor vehicle collisions which accounts for about one third of the deaths in this age group. In the U.S., about seven percent of the driving population is made up by this age group, but 14 percent of automobile fatalities. Compared to the drivers of all ages, teenagers are involved in three times as many deathly car crashes. Furthermore, 25 percent of drivers in the age group 16-20 who were killed in car crashes had blood alcohol levels of around 0.08 or more, in 2001.
Factors That Contribute to Teenage Fatal Car Crash Risk
The National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) has identified three factors which work together in contributing to the high traffic fatality rate among the teenagers. They are:
- Inexperience
- Risk-taking behavior and immaturity
- Greater risk exposure
Inexperience
All the new drivers begin with no experience and little knowledge about the intricacies of operating a motor vehicle. However, young inexperienced drivers crash at higher rates than the older inexperienced drivers. Teen drivers have meager judgment of risky behavior and they see dangers as less dangerous than they really are, high emotionality and more peer pressure. Learning good driving skills, like any other skill-set, needs time – time to gain the abilities, judgment, and reasonable decision-making abilities that come only with practice.
Risk-Taking Behavior and Immaturity
Impulsive behavior is quite usual for teenagers but at the back of the wheel of a motor vehicle, these results in poor decisions and high risk-taking behaviors which include speeding or driving too fast for the circumstances, being inattentive, drinking and driving, and not wearing seatbelts. Peer pressure magnifies these high risk-taking activities.
Greater Risk Exposure
Situations which increase crash risk for teens are driving with other teens in the car, particularly at night time. Studies have revealed that the risk of deadly accidents among young drivers increases sharply with each added passenger compared to driving alone.
Factors that Reduce Crash Rate for New Young Drivers
A study by the AAA Foundation liberated in 2006 showed the death and injury crash rate for 16-year old drivers was decreased by 20 percent in communities having graduated driver licensing (GDL) with:
- Nighttime driving restrictions
- Passenger restrictions
Teen drivers who obey traffic regulations and comply with the limitations, especially the passenger limitation, are more likely to remain crash-free. Teens who infringed traffic laws (those who received traffic tickets) had a higher crash rate.
Graduated driver licensing has been shown to be helpful not only in communities in the U.S. but also in Canada and New Zealand. With GDL, young drivers go through phases of escalating driver responsibility which steadily introduce them to full driving privileges. They not only gain driving experience in lower risk circumstances, but they are a little older and more grown-up when “graduating” to full driving privileges.
Parent Involvement
Higher levels of parental participation in monitoring teen driving correlates with fewer crashes. In addition, parents should set up a good example by modeling correct driving habits including using a seat belt, abiding by speed limits, remaining calm in traffic, and avoiding cell phone use while you are driving.
Finally, even though it may seem financially more attractive to parents to buy an older car for their teen driver, safety should always be the uppermost priority. Newer cars have air bags, anti-lock brakes, traction control and other safety traits which are worth the investment.
If your teen has been caught up in an automobile accident, contact an qualified personal injury lawyer to help you settle the ins and outs of your child’s car crash lawsuit.