Teen Drivers Are the Riskiest but Drive the Least Safe Vehicles
Car accident data has long shown that teens are some of the riskiest drivers. When taking the number of miles driven into account, teens are involved in car crashes at a much higher rate than more experienced adult drivers. Car accidents involving teen drivers frequently result in catastrophic injuries or death.
Car accident lawyers at Foley Law Firm, serving Scranton, PA, Stroudsburg, PA, Wilkes-Barre, PA, and surrounding areas have discovered that although teen drivers are the riskiest, they tend to drive the least safe vehicles. Here we discuss how a teen driver’s actions and the vehicles they drive have an impact on their risk of a car accident.
Risky Behaviors of Teen Drivers
Teens are involved in car accidents at a disproportionate rate compared to adult drivers, when considering miles traveled. The number of car crashes involving teen drivers is largely a result of inexperience and poor driving practices.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, reports that the inexperience of teen drivers makes them more susceptible to accidents when they practice unsafe driving habits. They highlight distracted driving, speeding, and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol as some of the riskiest behaviors of teen drivers.
- Distracted driving - The NHTSA reports that dialing a cell phone while driving increases a teen’s risk of a car accident by six times, while texting and driving increases a teen’s risk of a car crash by 23 times.
- Speeding - According to the NHTSA, speeding was a factor in 32 percent of fatal car crashes involving teen drivers in 2016.
- Driving under the influence - Although every state makes it illegal for individuals under the age of 21 to drink alcohol, the NHTSA reports that, in 2016, nearly 20 percent of teen drivers involved in a fatal car crash had been drinking.
Study Shows Teens Drive Least Safe Vehicles
Despite clear data that demonstrates teens are risky drivers, a recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that teens tend to drive the least safe vehicles. Looking at accident data for 2013 to 2017, researchers found that nearly a quarter of teen drivers killed in car accidents during this time period were driving micro, mini, or small vehicles. The study further found that nearly two-thirds of the teens involved in fatal car crashes were driving vehicles that were between six and 15 years old.
This data is important because it shows that at-risk teen drivers may face even greater dangers due to the types of vehicles they drive. Small cars have shorter front ends and weigh less than many other vehicles on the road. This allows them to absorb less force in an accident, which makes them more susceptible to damage from a crash impact.
Older vehicles may also put teen drivers at risk. Cars manufactured in recent years are required to have many safety features that were not available 10 years ago. Older vehicles are likely to lack side impact airbags, electronic stability control, automatic braking systems, rearview cameras, and many other essential devices that help prevent car accidents or minimize their damages.
How Can I Protect My Teen Driver?
Since teens are more likely to be involved in an accident, many parents are understandably reluctant to buy larger, newer, or more expensive vehicles for their teens. However, there are steps that parents can take to help protect teens on the road:
- Set an example by demonstrating safe driving practices
- Limit the number of passengers in your teen’s vehicle
- Discuss the danger of texting while driving
- Look for vehicles with high crash-safety ratings
- If purchasing a used vehicle, look for one with adequate safety features
Schedule a Consultation
If you or your teen has been involved in a car accident, the lawyers at Foley Law Firm can pursue your right to financial compensation for accident damages. To discuss your situation with our attorneys, send us a message online, or call (570) 342-8194 to schedule a legal consultation.