Teen Driving Risks
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motor vehicle crashes are responsible for more teen deaths than any other cause. Beyond fatalities, more than 230,000 teens received emergency treatment in 2015 alone for crash-related injuries.
Behind these statistics, certain behaviors are more likely to lead to an accident out on the road.
- Driving with Passengers
Crash risks significantly increase when a teen is traveling with peers, especially during the first few years of driving.
- Being a New Driver
Statistics show that teens ages 16 and 17 have double the fatal crash rate per mile as those 18 to 19 years old.
- Overconfidence
When compared to older drivers, teens can underestimate dangers, make more critical errors that lead to crashes, speed more often and give other drivers less space to manuever.
- Evening and Weekend Driving
A large majority of fatal crashes involving teen drivers happen between the hours of 3 p.m. and midnight. A large portion of these accidents involve driving on a weekend.
- Not Using Seat belts
Compared to other demographics, teens are less likely to use seat belts. Based on a 2015 survey, 61 percent of teens said they wear a seat belt when riding with someone. Of all teens who died in a vehicle crash in 2016, 48 percent weren’t wearing a seat belt.
- Driving Drunk
For teens who participate in underage drinking, their motor vehicle accident risk is greater than that of older adults. In fatal crashes involving male teen drivers, 22 percent had been drinking before the accident. If the driver isn’t wearing a seat belt, fatalities also go up drastically.
- Driving in Summer
Since teens have more free time in the summer, they are more likely to be out on the roads. Of the 10 most deadly days for teen crashes throughout the year, seven occur between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
- Texting
Surveys have shown that anywhere from 40 to 50 percent of all teen drivers text behind the wheel – more than any other demographic. These figures don’t take into account other distracted driving behaviors, such as talking on a cell phone or adjusting the radio.
- Bad Weather
Due to lack of driving experience, teens are more likely to crash on wet roads, in dark conditions or during high winds. Generally, teens should avoid driving in these conditions on their own. Instead, they should get practice when an experienced adult is in the vehicle.
If you have a newly licensed teen driver, make sure to stress the importance of safety on the road. Being cautious may not only save your child from being harmed, but also help to keep auto insurance premiums down. To explore insurance options for your teen driver, give us a call at 203.439.2815.
