Teen Drivers and Passengers: Get the Facts
Teen drivers pose the greatest risk of accidents and injuries to themselves, their passengers, and others. Vehicles not correctly driven can easily injure or kill those in them and those outside. If you’re injured in a vehicle accident involving a teen driver, their youth and inexperience aren’t defenses.
You may be entitled to compensation if you’re injured in a vehicle crash. Hicks Law Firm lawyers have more than three decades of experience with cases involving negligent drivers, and we will protect your rights to the compensation you deserve. For a no-obligation consultation, contact us today.
The Facts about Teen Drivers and Passengers are Not Good
Teen driving statistics are sobering:
- Car accidents are the top killer of US teens, states the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- In 2020, about 2,800 US teens 13 to 19 were killed, with about 227,000 injured in vehicle crashes
- The chances of a motor vehicle crash are greater for teens 16 to 19 than any other age group. Their fatal crash rate is almost three times higher than those 20 and older per mile driven
The teens with the highest accident rates are:
- Males aged 16 to 19 had a death rate three times higher than females the same age in 2020
- Teens driving with other teens or young adult passengers
- Newly licensed 16-year-olds in their first few months of driving are about 150% more likely to be in an accident than those 18 or 19
It may be a minor miracle that any of us who drove as teens survived these years alive and without injuries.
Why are Teen Drivers so Dangerous to Themselves and Others?
There are many factors, according to the CDC:
- Inexperience: Teens are more likely to underestimate or not recognize dangerous situations. Compared to adults, they’re also more likely to make critical errors that can cause serious crashes
- Nighttime and Weekend Driving: The rate of fatal accidents for teen drivers during these times is about three times higher than adults per mile driven. In 2020, nearly half (44%) of fatal vehicle accidents involving drivers 13 to 19 occurred between 9 pm and 6 am, and half of these crashes happened Friday through Sunday
- Failure to Use Seat Belts: More than half (56%) of teens killed in vehicle accidents in 2020 weren’t using seat belts. Almost half (43%) of high school students didn’t always use seat belts when someone else drove in 2019. The S. Department of Transportation estimates adult seatbelt use was about 90% in 2022.
- Distracted Driving: A 2019 survey of high school drivers found 39% texted or emailed while driving at least once during the prior 30 days
- Speeding: Teens, especially males, are more likely to speed and leave less space between their vehicle and the one in front of them. More than a third (35%) of male and 18% of female teens killed in vehicle crashes were speeding at the time in 2020
- Alcohol Consumption: Even though it’s illegal for those younger than 21 to drink alcohol or drive after drinking, 2020 data shows 29% of drivers 15 to 20 year old killed in motor vehicle crashes had been drinking, and 17% had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of at least 0.08%, the level that’s illegal for adults who drive
- Using Drugs/Substances: In a 2017 survey of high school students, about 13% admitted they smoked marijuana when they drove during the 30 days before the survey
Teen drivers are hazardous when these factors pile up. A teen driver who’s distracted because of alcohol use, in a car with their friends, speeding on a weekend night is practically an accident waiting to happen.
What Does the Future Hold?
One factor that may improve teens’ driving safety is many are waiting longer to drive. A teen not driving can’t cause an accident, and if they wait until they’re more mature, they may be safer drivers. The percentage of those 16 to 19 years old with licenses dropped from 64% in 1995 to just under 40% in 2021, reports The Hill.
They cite Federal Highway Administration statistics showing this is an overall trend of fewer younger Americans driving vehicles. The Hill states that the share of licensed drivers:
- Ages 20 to 24 dropped from 87% in 1995 to 81% in 2021
- Ages 25 to 29 decreased from 95% to 88% in the same time frame
Possible reasons include fewer parents are willing and able to pay for vehicles and driving expenses for young teen drivers, the lack of resources for young drivers to pay these costs themselves, and the use of alternatives like mass transit and ride-hailing apps Uber and Lyft.
Delayed driving may be safer as younger teens are not as good as older ones at judging risks, making decisions, and controlling emotions, according to a 2007 National Academy of Sciences study.
Following an Accident with a Teen Driver, Find Personal Injury Lawyer to Recover the Compensation You Deserve
You may be entitled to compensation if you’re injured in a vehicle accident caused by a young and inexperienced driver. The personal injury attorneys at Hicks Law Firm personal injury attorneys have more than 30 years of experience with catastrophic injuries cases. We will protect your rights to the compensation you deserve. Contact the firm today to schedule a no-obligation consultation.
Aaron Hicks is a civil trial attorney and founder of Hicks Law Firm, based in Orange County with offices in San Diego and Tennessee. His practice includes representing plaintiffs in personal injury cases including motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, dog bites and wrongful death. Mr. Hicks is and AV Rated attorney, Super Lawyer and is currently on the Board of Directors of the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association where he serves as 1st Vice President.
