As more and more statistics are being released about the dangers of teenage drivers, states have begun to debate at what age, and under what conditions, teenagers should be allowed to obtain a drivers license. If you’ve ever lived in the house with a teenager, you know how scary it can be when they first begin to drive. There is a reason that we are hesitant to turn over the keys to the family car to a 16 year old. According to the CDC, in 2008 about 3,500 teens in the United States ages 15-19 were killed and over 350,000 were injured as a result of motor vehicle accidents. While that age a group represents about 14% of the U.S. population, they account for about 30% of the total cost of motor vehicle injuries. Even more disturbing is that teenagers are more likely to be at fault in the accidents that they are involved in. Why are teenage drivers so dangerous?
For starters, they simply lack experience. Driving is a skill that we acquire over time. As with many things in life, the more we drive, the better we get at it. Many teenagers have very little actual time behind the wheel when they receive their driver’s license. Teenagers are more easily distracted than experienced drivers. Whether they are texting, talking on the phone, talking to other passengers or looking for a good place to eat, they are significantly more likely to be distracted than an adult driver. Additionally, they may be driving while fatigued or under emotional stress. Teenagers also lack the life skills to handle emotional stress while doing something as important as driving.
Furthermore, if an emergency situation arises, teenagers are less likely to know how to effectively handle the situation and/or avoid an accident. For example, a teenager is far less likely to know what to do when road conditions turn dangerous suddenly. That same teenager may panic if someone pulls out in front of them or may not know how to handle problems with his vehicle while driving.
So what can we do to help limit the risk of being in an accident with a teen driver? Many states have enacted graduated license programs. These laws allow teenagers to gradually obtain an unrestricted license after they have spent some time driving under a restricted license. This way, they gain experience driving during the day, without passengers before they are allowed out on the roadways unhindered. Many of these teenagers will make excellent drivers some day – they just need the experience to be able to handle themselves on the road. If you have been the victim in an accident involving a teenage driver, you should consult with a California accident attorney immediately. Your California accident attorney can evaluate your situation and let you know what options you may have to be compensated for any injuries you have suffered.
If you would like an experienced attorney to evaluate your case, contact the law offices of Ledger & Associates at 1-800-300-0001 or visit us at www.ledgerlaw.com.
