What to Know About Teen Drivers and Traffic Accidents

Whether you are a parent concerned about the safety of your child, a young driver or you recently became involved in a crash caused by a teen driver, it is crucial to take a look at traffic safety issues involving teens. There are many reasons why teens continue to become seriously hurt and even killed in accidents, from distracted driving to peer pressure that results in driving drunk.

Additionally, you should understand statistics on traffic collisions involving teens. For example, these collisions are especially likely to occur during nighttime hours on the weekends.

Data on Teens and Weekend Traffic Accidents

According to the CDC, teens are more likely to become involved in traffic collisions during the weekends and at nighttime. In fact, the likelihood of a collision is greater at night and on the weekend for all drivers, but this is especially true for teen drivers.

Data shows that throughout 2019, the year for when data is most recently available, 40% of crashes involving teens occurred between 9pm and 6am. For the same year, more than 50% of teen-involved crashes took place on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Risk Factors Regarding Teens and Traffic Accidents

There are many risks associated with teens and traffic collisions. Distractions are one of the biggest risks and can take many different forms. Notably, a 2019 survey revealed that 39% of teenage respondents admitted to texting or emailing while driving within 30 days of the survey. While texting or using a cell phone in any capacity is the most well-known distraction, other distractions can include:

• Talking with other teen passengers
• Eating or drinking in the vehicle
• Adjusting the radio or navigation system

Fatigue, intoxicated driving and inexperience can also lead to collisions.

If you are struggling with the aftermath of a car crash, you need to go over the accident details closely. An experienced personal injury attorney can be a helpful resource.