It makes very sad reading indeed that U.S. teenage drivers have the highest accident rate of any age group. The most comprehensive data relates to 2013 and confirms that approximately 963,000 drivers age 16 to 19 were involved in crashes reported to the police. These incidents resulted in 383,000 injuries and 2,865 deaths.
Video footage from 1,700 in-vehicle camera recorders has given researchers a unique opportunity to analyze the six seconds leading up to a crash of teen drivers. The footage showed that distraction was a contributing factor in 58 percent of all crashes which is a huge increase on the previously estimated figure of 14 percent. Passengers and cell phones are the most common forms of distraction that leads to accidents among teen drivers; with lack of experience behind the wheel another contributing factor.
Parents can play a vital role in educating their teens as to the dangers of being distracted while driving including cell phone usage and passengers. They could also consider restricting their teen to carrying only one non-family member passenger until they build up enough road experience to manage hazardous road conditions. An estimated eight teens a day die in car accidents, don’t let your son or daughter be one of those statistics.
The Meridian catastrophic injury claims attorneys of Jackson & Tucker, P.C., have the knowledge and experience to help you win maximum compensation for your injuries. Please call us right away at (866) 252-3535 or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation.
