Teen drivers place everyone at risk
TEEN DRIVERS PLACE EVERYONE AT RISK
| Jul 10, 2015 | Car Accidents |
Every year, teen drivers in New York and across the U.S. are responsible for a large number of avoidable fatalities because of the risky behavior that they engage in. The number of car accidents that young drivers cause is disproportionate when compared to other demographics.
Statistics show that drivers who are legally too young to drink are responsible for about 17 percent of the fatal alcohol-related car accidents that occur in this country. This amounts to the death of about 2,000 underage drinkers every year. Additionally, alcohol continues to be a factor in about one-third of auto accidents for this demographic. Statistics also show that teens who consume alcohol while they are underage are seven times as likely to be involved in an alcohol-related car accident. Drinking and driving is particularly problematic because it causes teen drivers to engage in riskier behavior and to try to escape from a crash scene to prevent their parents from finding out about the accident.
While drinking and driving has been a main source of concern for parents and public awareness campaigns, the biggest cause of teen automotive deaths in recent years has been distracted driving. In particular, texting and driving leads to approximately 3,000 teenage deaths every year. Statistics show that individuals who engage in texting while driving are 23 times more likely to be involved in an automotive accident. Other distracted activities involving phones can also increase the rate of risk, including talking on a phone, reaching for a phone or dialing a phone number. Teens who talk on phones while driving have a reaction time of someone much older than they are.
Individuals who are injured by a teen who was drinking or texting while driving may discuss their options with a personal injury attorney. A lawyer may inform victims of their rights and the possibility to recover the damages that they have suffered.
