Memorial Day marked the beginning of summer for many people across the Nation. The holiday was also marked with some new facts circulating about summer time driving accidents. A study performed by AAA reveals information that shows why the season of summer is the most risky of all: Teenagers.
They are free from school, finally have a car (or at least their parents let them borrow it) and they are heading out for beach trips with their friends. In 2013, there were 371,645 injuries sustained in accidents that involved teen drivers as well as nearly 3,000 fatalities. These numbers are all people whose lives have been effected by a teenager behind the wheel. The study discovered that the teenagers weren’t the ones getting injured in these accidents. The AAA website provides a press release which has highlighted the following key highlights:
“AAA Foundation research has shown that per licensed driver and per mile driven, teen drivers are more likely than drivers of any other age group to be involved in crashes that result in injuries to or deaths of other people outside of their vehicle such as occupants of other vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists”
The study analyzed data of police-reported crashes of drivers aged 15-19, from 1994-2013 and found that:
- While the overall number of teen crashes are down, the majority of people killed (66%) and injured (67%) in crashes involving a teen driver are people other than the teen themselves
- Nearly 50 percent of those injured were in another vehicle; 17 percent were in the teen driver’s car; and 2 percent were non-motorists (i.e., pedestrian, bicyclist)
- Nearly 30 percent of those killed were in another car, 27 percent were the teen’s passenger and ten percent were non-motorists (i.e., pedestrians, bicyclist)
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Although this information was collected nationally the state of Florida stands out from the crowd. Our warm climate, beautiful beaches and exciting nightlife attracts the young crowds during their down time. So, what can Floridians do to help keep themselves safe while driving on roads with novice drivers? Be leaders. Do not get distracted with phone calls, text messages and mapping systems. Pull over to handle any such activities. Secondly, ensure your vehicle is in top shape. Maintain your engine and your fluids to avoid any potential breakdowns. Third, if you are the parent of a teenager assess your child’s maturity. Just because the state says your child can apply for a learner’s permit at 15 doesn’t mean that your child is ready. Many young people have panic attacks in new environments or make poor decisions when they are under pressure and we all know that driving causes pressure! So, take your part in the match and routinely evaluate your child. The worst news they could hear is, you are not ready. If your child has been injured by another driver, give us a call and let our team work for you. Call us directly at 1-888-WE-MEAN-IT.
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