Some Statistics and Other Valuable Information about the Risks of Teenage Driving

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It is often said that teenagers are highly at risk of getting involved in crashes than any other age group. Fortunately enough, there are valuable statistics that back up this proof. While the same can be said for other age groups, the risks of injuries and deaths related to teenage driving are usually due to various factors.

Therefore, it is important for both young drivers and their parents to be as educated and aware as possible with regard to the entailed risks of teenage driving. Education and awareness are two key components in helping change the behavior towards the wheel, especially for the specific age group.

Meanwhile, here are some statistics and other valuable information about the risks of teenage driving, taken from the ImpactTeenDrivers.org:

• The leading cause of death among teenagers in the United States is due to crashes involving teen drivers. While it is a common notion that teenagers behind the wheel always take risks when it comes to driving, most of these crashes are caused by their inexperience and/or other activities that distract them from operating their vehicles.
• Young drivers account for more crashes than any other age group in the U.S. In fact, about 25 percent of deaths every year involve drivers between the ages of 16 and 24.
• The crash fatality rate is highest for drivers aged 16 to 17 years old. Said rate remains high until the age of 24.
• About 20 percent of 11th grade drivers were involved in at least one accident, according to the National Young Driver Survey. Nearly 3 percent experienced two or more crashes.

Among many things to blame for the teenage driving crashes is the technology, particularly the use of cell phones, coupled with inexperience behind the wheel. According to Thomas Milewski, manager of operations at Driver’s Ed Direct, said that teenagers today “have now a multitude of items to go to and everybody is doing it (using cell phones while driving).”

Incidentally, legal experts, including Los Angeles personal injury attorneys believe that being aware of the entailed risks of teenage driving would help younger drivers become more responsible and safer motorists.