Teen Car Crash Risk Factors
While all drivers face risks, the factor most responsible for increasing car crashes and deaths appears to be inexperience. Statistics show that drivers who have recently earned their license, especially new teenage drivers, have the highest car accident rates. Drivers well into their twenties have higher crash rates than older drivers as well which could indicate that it takes years of practice before we become good drivers. Teen car crash risk factors are all amplified by driver inexperience.
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Read MoreTeen Driving Accidents: High Summer Fatality Rate
Many of us have memories of that last beautiful summer as a teenager before we were working full time. There was plenty of time to enjoy the sunshine and test out our new driving skills for a taste of freedom. Unfortunately, this happy time turns into a tragic accident more often than we would like. Annual survey results from Liberty Mutual and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) indicate that teen drivers often engage in more risky driving behaviors during the summer months than during the school year that lead to crashes, serious injuries and, sometimes deaths.
Summer Driving More Deadly for Teen Drivers
More teens die in car crashes during the summer months (June through September) than any other time of the year. Of the 6,434 youth (ages 15 to 20) car crash fatalities in 2000, July saw more deaths (644) than any other month, followed by June (600), September (590) and August (587).
Summer Teen Driving Data
- Since they have more free time and/or are driving to summer jobs, teen drivers average 44 percent more hours driving each week during the summer (23.6 hours) than during the school year (16.4 hours). The more we are behind the wheel; the more likely we are to be involved in a car accident.
- The “Piling-In” effect is in full swing in the summer when 23% of teen drivers are likely to drive with three or more teens in the car, compared to 6 percent of teen drivers who do this during the school year. Car crash rates for teens rise significantly as the number of passengers increases, particularly among the youngest teens aged 16 and 17.
- Teens tend to be out later at night in the summer: 72% of teens report they stay out later during the summer than the school year. Additionally, 47% of teen drivers drive late at night during the summer as compared to 6% percent of teen drivers who drive late at night during the school year. This fact is particularly important because more than a quarter (27 percent) of all teen driving deaths, ages 16 to19, occur between the hours of 9 p.m. and 2 a.m.
- Sleep deprivation is more prevalent in the summer and 24% of teen drivers admit to getting behind the wheel while sleepy in the summer as compared to just 9% who drive tired during the school year.
Other teen behavior that compounds the risks of summer driving
- 87% of teens admit to talking on a cell phone while driving.
- 87% of teens admit to speeding while driving
- About one third of teen drivers use drugs or alcohol and may still be experiencing the effects when they get behind the wheel.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is two to three times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation!
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Teen Driving Accidents Facts & Statistics
When a person turns 16 they are often very excited to get their driver’s license but it is probably safe to say that most parents are nervous about this milestone. Although they may relish their child being able to drive themselves to school and activities, they are nervous about their teen being hurt in an accident. Parents have good reason to worry as the car crash injury and fatality statistics among teen drivers are staggering. In fact, car crashes are the number one cause of death among teens in the U.S. and the top three predictors for fatality in a car accident are not wearing seat belts, teen drivers and roads with speed limits of 45 miles per hour or higher. Parents can influence their teen’s driving behavior; 56 percent of teens are taught to drive by their parents and 66 percent of teens say they listen to their parents’ opinion on using a cell phone while driving.
Teen Car Crash Statistics
- The fatality rate for drivers aged 16 to 19 is four times higher than that of drivers aged 25 to 69 years
- The crash fatality rate (crash fatalities per 100,000 population) is highest for 16 to 17 year olds within the first six months after getting their license and remains a high risk through age 24
- Approximately two-thirds of teen passenger deaths (ages 13 to 19) occur when other teenagers are driving
- In 2008, 2,739 teenagers died in car accidents in the United States
- Males are twice as likely as females to be killed in a car crash as a teenager
- Thirty-seven percent of male drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 were speeding at the time of a fatal crash
- Teen drivers were involved in 63% of teen passenger deaths and 19% of passenger deaths of all ages in fatal accidents.
- In the first year of driving after receiving their license, teen drivers are almost 10 times more likely to be in a crash than at any other time
- Twenty percent of 11th graders report being in a crash as a driver in the past year
- Twenty-five percent of 9th graders already report being in a crash as a passenger in their lifetimes
Top Causes of Teen Driving Crashes and Fatalities
Distraction
- Ninety percent of teens involved in fatal car crashes have other teen passengers in their vehicle to distract them
- Data on 16-year-old drivers shows that having multiple teenage passengers in the vehicle is twice as likely to cause a fatal crash as alcohol-impaired driving
Speeding
- Nearly half of teens report seeing passengers encouraging drivers to speed at least sometimes
- Half of teen drivers report driving 10 miles per hour over the speed limit at least sometimes
- The crash risk increases incrementally with each mile per hour over the speed limit
Cell Phones
- Nine out of 10 teens say that it is common to see teens driving while talking on a cell phone
Seat Belts
- Teens have the lowest seat belt use rates of any age group
- Only 65 percent of teens consistently wear their seat belts as both a driver and passenger
- Six out of 10 drivers aged 16 to 20 who were killed in crashes were not wearing their seat belt
- Almost two out of three teens killed as passengers are not wearing their seat belt
Drunk Driving
- Teens are statistically less likely than adults to get behind the wheel after drinking, but when they do; their risk of crashing is much higher when you add in other teen risk factors
- Fifty-three percent of teens have seen other teens drinking and driving at some point
- Thirty-one percent of teens who died in a car crash were drinking alcohol
Day of the week and time of day matters
- Fifty-three percent of teen deaths in fatal accidents happened on the weekends and 41 percent occurred overnight between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
If you or a loved one were injured in a car accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is two to three times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation!
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