Why Are Teenagers Dangerous Drivers?

It is a fact that teens are involved in vehicle collisions more often than adults. While there are several factors that come into play in any accident, there are commonalities in those that involve teenage drivers. Inexperienced license holders often make errors that lead to crashes. Some of the most common errors that can be attributed to a lack of experience are driving in ways that aren’t safe for road conditions, failing to respond to hazards correctly, and distracted driving.

When it comes to teen drivers, experience is often the best teacher, but that experience shouldn’t come at the expense of someone else. If you have a teen, understanding the common causes of accidents caused by young drivers can help you better teach your child how to behave behind the wheel.

1. Distracted Driving

Like with adults, one of the most common causes of teen driving accidents is distracted driving. Teens may do any number of things that takes their attention off the road and traffic. These include talking or otherwise interacting with passengers, adjusting the radio, digging through bags, eating or drinking, and using electronic devices for texting, emailing or posting to social media. Any of these distractions will cause a teenager to lose focus on the road.

2. Speeding

The National Young Driver Survey spoke to teenagers across America. Of those surveyed, most defined speeding as traveling more than 10 miles an hour over the speed limit. What many did not seem to understand was that traveling even a single mile over the posted speed limit was illegal and dangerous. Speeding is such a concern for teen drivers because it takes a vehicle longer to stop the higher the speed, and teens already possess less experience for reacting properly in an emergency or hazardous situation.

3. Nighttime Driving

Another factor that comes into play with teens and accidents is nighttime driving. When driving at night, people have even less time to see what is ahead and react appropriately. It takes experience to be able to recognize hazards quickly. Nighttime driving is very different than driving during the day, and teenagers should practice with an experienced driver several times before venturing out after dark on their own.

4. Seat Belts

People between the ages of 16 and 24 are less likely to wear a seat belt than any other age group. Teens who live in an area where not wearing a seat belt is a secondary offense rather than a primary one are 15 percent less likely to buckle up. Seat belts have been shown to reduce fatalities in most accidents. Teach your child to buckle up no matter how the law is enforced in your area.

Teenagers are some of the most dangerous drivers on the road simply due to a lack of experience. The more time one has behind the wheel, the more likely they are to be able to avoid hazards and react properly when they encounter dangerous conditions. If your teenager is a new driver, take them out for practice as often as you can.

If you are involved in an accident in Charlotte and someone else is found to be at fault, you may be entitled to compensation. Call our team of car accident attorneys today for a free consultation and learn more about your rights.