Will There Be More Teen Drivers on the Road This Fall?

In 2019 in the state of Arizona there were almost 70,000 newly licensed Arizona drivers aged 16 and 17. Also that year, there were 129,750 total traffic accidents. While not every traffic accident in Arizona that took place that year involved a teen driver, teens are still at very high risk for accidents when they hit the road. There are several reasons for this. First, their inexperience puts them at a disadvantage as to how to properly react to hazardous driving situations. Second, teens tend to take more risks than older adults, and because of this, they may engage in unsafe driving practices like speeding. Additionally, teens are more likely to drive some of the most unsafe vehicles. When combining the higher dangers teens face when they are behind the wheel with one of the leading causes of accidents, distracted driving, the outcome is often devastating.

Some of the sobering statistics associated with teen drivers include:

• Teens lose their lives car accidents at a rate ten times higher than adult drivers.
• The leading cause of death in teens is car accidents.
• The majority of fatal crashes that involve teens take place as little as six months after they received their license.
• Two-thirds of teen passengers who lose their lives in car accidents take place when the driver of the car is also a teen.
• Intersections are the most fatal portions of the road accounting for a third of all teen car accidents.

Are Teen Drivers Going to be Increased During COVID?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that the safest option for transportation to and from school is via the school bus. However, during the pandemic, keeping people separated to avoid spreading the virus has caused some schools to not deploy their busses or have a significantly reduced capacity. As a result, schools are asking parents to pick up the slack and drop off and pick up their children from school. 

While some parents will be able to accommodate these requests, others may have a much harder time. Because of this, the concern is that for those families where a parent can not take on the transportation responsibilities, they may have their children drive themselves instead. This could lead to a significant increase in teen drivers in areas where schools are opening. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported that during a time frame from 2013 through 2017, two-thirds of the teens who lost their lives in crashes were driving smaller, generally less safe vehicles that were also up to 15 years old.

Speak with an Arizona Car Accident Attorney Today

If your child has started driving, it is understandable if you are concerned about their welfare when they hit the road. Should you or a loved one have the unfortunate experience of being involved in an Arizona car accident, contact the Arizona personal injury lawyers at ELG. It takes very little time to meet and consultations are always free. Call ELG today at (623) 877-3600.