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The Perils Of Teenage Driving

Michael Agruss

Written and Reviewed by Michael Agruss

  • Managing Partner and Personal Injury Lawyer at 844SeeMike.
  • Over 20 years of experience in Personal Injury.
  • Graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law: Juris Doctor, 2004.

Teenagers in the United States are more likely to die in a car crash than any other way; motor vehicle accidents account for over one in three teenage deaths. Drivers aged fifteen to nineteen make up only 14% of the U.S. population, but they represent 30% of motor vehicle injuries for the male population, and 28% for the female population.

Age and gender are a major deciding factor in motor vehicle death and injury in America. Teenage drivers aged sixteen to nineteen are four times as likely to crash than older drivers, for every mile driven in America. The death rate from car crashes in the fifteen to nineteen-year-old range was nearly twice as high for boys than for girls in 2006. Immaturity and driver inexperience are the reasons crash rates are so high for teenagers, reports the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Immaturity is just a fact of being a teenager; the rationalization centers in the brain are not fully developed. Tailgating, speeding, not paying attention: all of these are problems often tied to immaturity. Teenagers also lack practice driving; they can’t recognize or respond to danger the same way more experienced drivers can. Frequently, fatal crashes of young drivers are single-car wrecks caused by driver error and/or speeding. But, social distractions also contribute to the high accident rates: around half of all teenage deaths caused by motor vehicle crashes occur between 3:00 p.m. and midnight. Fifty-five percent happen on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday (when kids are not in school); many of these crashes include one or more passengers. Another statistic: for drivers aged sixteen and seventeen, the death rates climb with each additional passenger.

And, car accidents are not the only threats to young drivers; in 2005, three hundred and twenty six teenage motorcycle drivers were killed, nine thousand were injured. Of this number, thirty-two percent were not wearing helmets, and over a third were not licensed, or were driving with an invalid license. Alcohol is another problem for teenage drivers; also in 2005, twenty-one percent of teen drivers killed in car accidents had been drinking.

Insurance then, is pricey and complicated for teenagers. But, taking an auto accident prevention course or driving school course will allow for a discount for some car insurers (and hopefully reduce the driver’s risk of crashing). Different vehicles yield different policy rates as well; luxury models and SUVs carry higher rates than Toyota Camrys. Younger drivers are wise to pick safe, moderately priced vehicles; this will help them maintain reasonably affordable car insurance, avoid pricey repairs, and increase their safety on the road (SUVs are not generally a good choice for new drivers, for a variety of reasons).

Finally, it’s worth noting that states are responding to the high rates of teen fatalities on the road; thirty-two states have enacted a Graduated Drivers License (GDL) program. The legislation looks different in every state, but usually includes restrictions to keep teenaged drivers away from hazardous situations as they learn to drive (as in, not driving after nine at night); they often also require an extended supervised learning period to improve driving skills, and include sanctions designed to motivate young drivers to stay safe.

If you have been injured in a car accident, contact 844 See Mike, at 312-224-4695 for a free consultation. We are a Chicago personal injury law firm representing individuals and families who have suffered an injury or loss due to an accident. 844 See Mike, will handle your personal injury case quickly, will advise you every step of the way, and will not hesitate to go to trial for you.

Lastly, 844 See Mike, does not get paid attorney’s fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. Therefore, you have nothing to risk when you hire us–just the opportunity to seek justice.

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