Teen Driving Accidents

Young drivers less than 20 years of age are more likely than drivers of any other age groups – except the drivers in the age group of 80 years or older – to be involved in fatal road accidents per mile driven, according to 2012 statistics from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Older drivers (those aging 85 or more) have the highest death rate per mile driven, while younger drivers aging 16-17 have the highest rate of involvement infatal crashes. Accidents caused by teenage drivers often result in deaths of the passengers and other travelers on the road.

Studies also reveal that when teenagers drive with one or more passengers in the car, they are more likely to be involved in a road accident. However, the studies making such claims were conducted more than a decade ago. More importantly, those studies were conducted before the graduated driver licensing rule took effect in most US states. Under the rule, there is a restriction on the number of passengers a young, newly licensed driver can carry in his or her car. Since the rule took effect, the number of fatal road accidents involving teenage drivers has seen more than 50 percent decrease every year.

A new study was conducted on the basis of accident data available for the period between 2007 and 2010, and the number of miles traveled in the period between 2008 and 2009. The data was evaluated to compare the risks associated with teenage driving in different situations, such as, when the teenage driver carries one less-than-21-year-old passenger, and when he carries three less-than-21-year-old passengers. It was found that when a teenage driver drives with one passenger younger than 21 rather than driving alone, his or her risk per mile traveled increases by around 44 percent. The study also revealed that having one passenger 35 years or older helps lower the accident risks considerably.

On the other hand, when a teenage driver chooses to carry two less-than-21-year-old passengers, his risk of being killed in an accident per mile traveled almost doubles, compared to when he chooses to drive alone. Along similar lines, the risk almost quadruples when the teenage driver chooses to drive with three passengers 21 years or younger. However, the presence of only one passenger 35 years or older in the car lowers the teenage driver's risk of being killed in an accident per mile driven, by around 62 percent. This also helps lower the teenage driver's risk of being involved in any police reported crash per mile traveled by around 46 percent.

The results of the new study show that teenage drivers are exposed to higher risk of accidents when they carry young passengers in the car. On the other hand, carrying older passengers in the car help reduce to risk of accidents.

If you have been a victim of a car accident involving a negligent teen driver, get in touch with an expereinced St. Louis car wreck attorney to learn more about your legal right to compensation for injuries and damages. Call (314) 361-4242 to schedule a free consultation with an attorney.