According to statistics compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, teenage drivers are some of the most dangerous drivers on the road.
- In 2011, more than 500 people were killed as a result of teen drivers being drunk.
- The risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among 16-19 year olds than among any other age group. In fact, per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16-19 are three times more likely than drivers aged 20 and older to be in a fatal crash.
- Young people ages 15-24 represent only 14% of the U.S. population, but they account for 30% of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among males and 28% of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among females.
- Car accidents are the leading cause of death among teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 years old.
- In fatal car accidents involving teen drivers, the drivers were reportedly speeding about 35% of the time.
- Peer pressure is a contributing factor to reckless driving behavior for teen drivers, as teen drivers are about 2.5 times more likely to drive recklessly when they have one other teenager riding in the car. When the number of other teen occupants in the car increases, so too does the risk of reckless driving behavior on the part of the teen driver.
Teen texting is also a major problem. How often have you seen a teenager constantly glancing down into his or her lap while driving? Yep, they are probably using a smartphone and texting or engaging in some other form of distracting messaging – making matters even worse.
For more information on teen drivers, click here.
If you have been injured by a teen driver or other type of vehicular crash, contact the attorneys at DeBlasio Law Group. For a free consultation in a personal injury or wrongful death case, contact us by phone at (630) 560.1123 or through our website at www.DGLLC.net/contact.