teenage driver

Why Are Teenage Drivers More Likely to Cause Accidents? Risks and Legal Consequences

Starting to drive is an exciting milestone for many teens. They gain more freedom, but they also have to manage the responsibility of driving a vehicle. Teenage drivers have much higher motor vehicle accident rates than older drivers, which can concern parents. 

Before teens get behind the wheel, it’s important for them and their parents to understand all the risks associated with driving and the potential legal implications. Learning the common factors that contribute to teen accidents is the first step. Then, parents and teens can work together to improve safety by addressing those factors.

Understanding Teenage Driving Challenges

Whenever you start doing something you’ve never done before, it takes some time to build up experience and get better at it. Driving is no exception. Teen drivers’ inexperience makes it more challenging to know how to handle different situations on the road. Their brains are also still developing the ability to make sound judgments, which may make them more likely to take risks like speeding or driving while distracted. 

Those first few years after teens get their initial license is a critical learning period for developing their driving ability. If teens and their parents understand these teenage driving challenges, they’ll be better equipped to implement safer driving practices.

Common Risk Factors for Teenage Drivers

Sometimes, there’s nothing you can safely do to avoid a car accident. However, certain risk factors common among teen drivers make accidents more likely:

Distracted Driving

If the driver isn’t paying close attention to what’s happening on the road, they’re much more likely to get into an accident. They may not notice or have enough time to react to changing conditions around them. In 2022, 3,308 people died in motor vehicle accidents with distracted drivers in the United States. 

Drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 are more at risk for distracted driving than drivers over 21. Common distractions for teen drivers include:

  • Texting and talking on the phone
  • Other cell phone use
  • Changing the stereo system
  • Adjusting car settings
  • Eating and drinking

All of these behaviors may take the driver’s eyes off the road long enough to contribute to an accident. For example, if a teen driver takes five seconds to respond to a text while driving 55 miles an hour, that’s equivalent to driving an entire football field with their eyes closed. Anything could happen in that time when the teenage driver isn’t paying full attention to the road. 

Speeding

Speeding is another key factor in many motor vehicle accidents, and teens may be more inclined to speed than other drivers. They might be seeking thrills, overconfident in their abilities to avoid accidents, or dealing with peer pressure to drive faster. 

Whatever their reasons, teenagers driving too fast are more at risk of fatal crashes or other teen driver accidents. In 2022, speeding contributed to 29% of all traffic fatalities, which goes to show how risky it is. Driving faster means teens have less time to react and evade an accident. The faster they’re driving, the longer it takes to slow down or stop the vehicle entirely. 

Influence of Passengers

Teen passengers may also affect young drivers’ behavior behind the wheel. Having other teens in the car can distract the teen driver or encourage risky behavior. Parents shouldn’t assume that their teens will drive the same way with their friends in the car as they do when they have responsible adult passengers.

Substance Use (Alcohol and Drugs)

Drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol are also more likely to get into an accident since substance use impairs judgment and reaction times. Substance use is especially dangerous for young drivers, who may not know how alcohol and drugs affect their ability to drive safely.

Seat Belt Usage

Teens and young adults are less likely to use their seat belts than any other group. Seat belts play a crucial role in preventing injuries during accidents, so lower seat belt usage puts teens at risk. More than half of the drivers aged 15 to 20 who died in traffic crashes in 2022 were not using a seat belt

Drowsy Driving

Around 70% of teens don’t get the nine hours of sleep per night that they need. They often have irregular sleep patterns, which can lead to drowsy driving, a significant risk factor for accidents. Drowsy drivers have slower reaction times and may even fall asleep and entirely lose control of the vehicle.

Parental Involvement in Teen Driving Safety

Parents need to be involved to make sure their teens learn to drive safely. Try these strategies to help protect your teen driver. 

Setting Ground Rules

Before your teens ever get behind the wheel, set clear ground rules for driving. You may want to establish a curfew to reduce the risks of nighttime driving, limits on how many passengers they can have in the car, and rules against any phone use, for example. If they violate these rules, revoke their driving privilege until you’re confident they will drive responsibly.

Encouraging Participation in Driver Education

Sign your teen up for a formal driver education program to help build foundational skills and awareness for safe driving. An experienced driving teacher can share actionable tips that may help your teen become a better driver. Some extra driving practice with someone other than a parent may also make your teen more comfortable behind the wheel.

Helpful Tools and Apps for Monitoring

Parents may want to use tools and apps to monitor teens’ driving habits, such as tracking speed, location, and phone usage while driving.

Options include:

  • Life360
  • MamaBear
  • DriveSmart
  • Safe 2 Save
  • Safest Driver

These apps help parents understand how their teens are driving so they can encourage them to establish safer habits if necessary. 

Statistical Insights on Teenage Driving

Teenagers are most likely to get into accidents soon after getting their licenses. Per mile driven, 16-year-old drivers crash 1.5 times as often as 18- to 19-year-old drivers. Teenage boys are also much more likely to get into accidents than teenage girls. The fatal motor vehicle crash rate for boys ages 16–19 years was three times higher than for female drivers the same age in 2020. 

Each additional teen passenger also increases the risk that teen drivers will crash. Nearly half of all teen traffic crash deaths occur at night, between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. They’re disproportionately likely to occur on the weekend, too. 

Strategies for Promoting Safe Driving Behavior

Teens and parents should work together to promote safer driving behavior. Try these strategies:

Establishing Safe Driving Habits

Good driving habits can last a lifetime. New drivers should focus on habits such as:

  • Practicing defensive driving — anticipating and avoiding dangerous situations on the road
  • Knowing the rules of the road
  • Staying below the speed limit
  • Adjusting their driving to different visibility and weather conditions
  • Avoiding distractions

Be strict about setting these habits upfront so teen drivers don’t have to unlearn bad driving habits later. 

Educating Teens about Consequences

Explaining the legal, financial, and emotional consequences of accidents may also encourage teens to drive more responsibly. Let them know what might happen if they cause an accident, including increased insurance costs, medical bills, and even possible legal action. In some cases, they might even need a teen driver accident lawyer

The goal of sharing this information isn’t to terrify your teen. It’s to convince young drivers to exercise caution and avoid these negative consequences.

Teenage Drivers FAQs

What is the youngest age to drive?

Each state sets its own minimum driving age and associated requirements. Generally, teenagers must be between 14.5 and 17 years old to get their first restricted license. 

How old are the riskiest drivers?

The riskiest drivers are teenagers between 16 and 19 years old. They are more likely to get into motor vehicle crashes than any other group.

Is it safe for 16-year-olds to drive?

There’s some debate on whether 16-year-olds are responsible enough to drive, but every state allows 16-year-olds to at least get a learner’s permit.

Why do teen drivers take risks?

Teen drivers may take more risks because they’re inexperienced, lack the maturity to make more responsible driving decisions, or deal with peer pressure.

What is the biggest cause of teen crashes?

Speeding is one of the leading causes of teen driving accidents, alongside drunk driving and distracted driving. 

Fostering Responsible Drivers

Teen drivers are at a much higher risk of motor vehicle accidents due to factors like inexperience, distracted driving, and immaturity. Better awareness and education about these risks, plus parental involvement, go a long way toward making teenage driving safer. 

Teens and parents, prioritize safe driving practices. Work together to form good habits, such as driving at safe speeds and avoiding distractions. 

If your teen was in a car accident and needs legal assistance, Morris & Dewett can help. As an experienced law firm, Morris & Dewett is here to help you deal with legal matters after an accident. Contact us today for assistance with your case. 

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