Why Are There Lots of Teens in Car Accidents?

Many parents worry about how to keep their teens safe behind the wheel. It can be nerve-racking to watch teenagers get their driver’s licenses and start driving on their own. While this event is an important milestone for teens as they become increasingly independent, there are good reasons for parents to be concerned about safety. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of preventable deaths among teenagers. Scroll down to explore (1) why the rates of teens in car accidents are so high and (2) some steps that parents can take to help lower the risk that their kids will be involved in collisions.

Teens in Car Accidents: What to Know

Teenagers are much more likely to be involved in motor vehicle accidents than older drivers. While older drivers have years of experience with driving, teens do not and often make mistakes. The following are some of the top reasons why the rates of teens in car accidents are so high.

1. Risk-Taking Behavior

Risk-taking behavior significantly increases during the teenage years before subsiding as teens reach adulthood. This is because the teenage brain is still developing and important changes in the brain during puberty increases the likelihood that teens will engage in risky behavior to obtain rewards even when there are risks involved. More dopamine is released in the teenage brain than at other stages of development. This leads teens to explore and engage in risky behaviors that can impact them when they get behind the wheel.

According to the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, high school-aged teenagers reported engaging in the following risky behaviors:

• Approximately 43 percent reported failing to always wear seat belts.
• Approximately 17 percent reported riding with a driver who had been drinking.
• Approximately 5 percent reported driving after drinking alcohol.
• Approximately 19 percent reported texting or emailing while driving.

To minimize these types of risks, parents should model appropriate behavior, including seat belt use, not using cell phones while driving, and never driving while impaired. They should also set clear rules (with consequences) for their children regarding these types of behaviors.

2. Inexperience Combined with Poor Decision-Making Skills

Teenage drivers are three times more likely to be involved in fatal accidents than older drivers. Since teen drivers are newly licensed, they haven’t had the time to develop strong defensive driving skills and to be able to quickly identify and take steps to avoid dangers on the road. Because of this, teen drivers tend to spot dangers on the road later than older drivers and are also more likely to make critical errors when they do, resulting in teens in car accidents. This risk decreases over time as teenagers gain more experience with driving.

Parents can work to mitigate this risk by ensuring their children get plenty of practice driving before they get their licenses. They should also give feedback when their teens drive and talk about how to identify, evaluate, and respond to road hazards.

3. Driving at Night

Driving at night is more challenging for teens because of reduced visibility and fatigue. There are also more impaired drivers on the road at night. Because of this, Massachusetts has restrictions on junior operator’s licenses for night driving. Teens are not allowed to drive between the hours of midnight and five a.m. unless they are accompanied by a parent. However, when their children can get full driver’s licenses, parents might consider curfews for their teens so that they will not be driving late at night.

4. Feeling Invincible and Speeding

Teenagers often feel a sense of invincibility. Combined with their tendency to engage in risky behavior, this can lead them to speed while driving. They also tend to leave less distance between their cars and the vehicles in front of them. The CDC has found that these issues are especially prevalent among male teenage drivers. Parents should have clear rules about driving behaviors, including speeding. They might consider using apps with their insurance companies that reward good driving behavior and track how fast their teens drive when they are behind the wheel. And again, parents should model good driving behavior by following posted speed limits when they drive.

5. Distracted Driving

Teenagers spend a large part of their lives on their smartphones. When they drive, they tend to continue texting, reading incoming texts, posting on social media, and taking photographs. All of these types of activities take the driver’s attention away from the road and can cause accidents. Parents should have a rule that a teen’s phone needs to be turned off and placed out of reach while they are behind the wheel, and the parents should also refrain from using their phones while they drive.

Speak to an Attorney

If you have been involved in an accident with a teen driver or your child was involved in a collision in Massachusetts, you should reach out to the experienced personal injury lawyers at Ellis & Associates. Call us today for a free consultation at 800-MR-ELLIS.