According to statistics compiled by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, teen drivers pose a significant danger to fellow travelers. For the five-year span between 2013 and 2017, an estimated 3,500 people were killed in car accidents caused by teenage drivers. In Tennessee and elsewhere helping teenagers develop safe driving skills is important.
The AAA study found that some of the more serious crashes were attributed to motorists speeding or being under the influence of intoxicating substances. Data for the study used information involving teen drivers between the ages of 15 to 18. Those with learner’s permits and restricted licenses were also included in the statistics.
Though inexperience often contributes to these young drivers making errors in judgment, it is vital that they provided with educational opportunities to help them resist behaviors that can put them and other travelers at risk. More than half of teen drivers admitted to reading messages while driving while just under half confessed to sending messages while behind the wheel. Though law enforcement cameras cannot always precisely determine whether distractions played a role in a crash, an estimated 58% of wrecks involving teen drivers are attributed to some form of distraction.
There are calls to implement a graduated licensing program nationwide. The first 26 weeks after a teen receives a license are said to be the most dangerous. Parents are encouraged to not contact their child while they know he or she is likely driving. Those who are injured in car accidents caused by another party’s negligence may also struggle with financial burdens created by these tragic accidents. Those who are injured in a Tennessee crash may pursue just compensation for their documented losses through the state’s civil court system.
