Car accidents are, and have been for some time, the leading cause of death among teenagers in the United States. According to the CDC, there were 2,364 teens killed in motor vehicle accidents in 2017, and more than 300,000 who received emergency treatment for injuries suffered in car accidents. That’s an average of six killed per day and hundreds injured per day.
The demographics most at risk tended to be teenage boys (more than twice as likely to be killed in car accidents as teenage girls), teens driving with other teen passengers and teens who recently got their license.
Here are some of the other factors most likely to put teens at risk, according to the CDC:
- Speeding: Teens are more likely than older drivers to speed and tailgate, both of which are behaviors likely to lead to auto accidents.
- Seat belt use: Teens and young adults have the lowest seat belt usage rates compared to other groups; as of 2017, only about 59 percent of high school students reported “always” wearing seatbelts.
- Inexperienced: Teens are more likely than older drivers to be incapable of recognizing dangerous situations, or to underestimate the dangers of certain situations on the road.
- Alcohol use: Any amount of alcohol results in an increased risk of crashes among teens compared to older drivers.
- Time: The majority of teenage accident fatalities occur on weekends, and 40 percent occur between the hours of 9 pm and 6 am.
For more information about some of the biggest risk factors for teen drivers, contact an experienced Bradenton, FL auto accident lawyer at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez & Walsh.