Earning a driver’s license is an exciting milestone for teenagers everywhere. The excitement may not extend to parents, however, who can expect to pay large insurance costs while teen drivers are on their policies.
There’s a reason why teenagers cost so much more to insure—they’re statistically more likely to be involved in accidents. Here are a few examples of some of the biggest risks associated with teen drivers.
- Inexperience: Teenagers may have met the minimum requirements for driving hours and passed their test, but it takes some time for them after licensure to really be comfortable with driving in a variety of situations and on their own. Their inexperience can present some dangers and challenges that don’t exist for responsible and experienced older drivers.
- Passengers: Driving with other teenage passengers has been proven in studies to have negative impacts on a teenager’s driving and may encourage risky behaviors.
- Distracted driving: Teenagers are particularly at risk for distracted driving, especially as it relates to driving while texting or using apps on a phone. Other distractive behaviors include applying makeup, eating or changing the radio station.
- Impaired driving: Teen drinking remains a widespread issue, and as such drunk driving is a significant factor in a portion of accidents involving teenage drivers.
- Not using seat belts: Teenagers (both drivers and passengers) have the lowest rate of seat belt use among any age demographic.
- Night driving: Teenagers do most of their driving practice during the day, but generally hang out with each other at night. Night driving is quite different to day driving and thus can have a higher likelihood of an accident.
If you’ve been involved in an accident caused by a teen driver, contact an experienced Manatee County accident lawyer at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez & Walsh for tips on how to proceed with a personal injury claim.