Teenagers have the highest fatal accident rate in the country. They make up a very small age group of drivers, from just 16 to 19, and they are involved in a disproportionate number of serious car accidents. The rate at which these accidents lead to fatal injuries is higher than it is for any other age group.
There are numerous reasons why this happens, but let’s take a look at three of the biggest ones below. This is why teenagers have a high fatal accident rate.
Distracted driving
Like other drivers, teens face a plethora of distractions. They may be tempted to text and drive. They may use their phone to stream music or program the coordinates for a GPS. They may even decide to take pictures or videos, or they will browse social media and check their notifications while trying to drive the car.
Risky driving behaviors
Additionally, some teens will engage in deliberately risky activities, such as excessive speeding or even racing. In some cases, they just don’t understand how dangerous their driving habits are – like when they take too much speed into a corner and risk overturning the vehicle.
Inexperience
Above all else, though, it is the role of inexperience that leads to this high number of teen car crashes. It takes time to learn how to drive well, and teenagers simply haven’t been doing it for very long. As they get experience and grow up, they do improve their driving skills, but they also cause numerous serious accidents.
Have you been injured or lost a loved one in one of these crashes? Make sure you know what legal options you have.