CHICAGO, IL – More U.S. teens die in car accidents than from any other cause, and many of these deaths are preventable. Furthermore, teens typically have higher accident rates than any other age group. According to the latest data available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of teen motor vehicle occupant deaths increased for the second consecutive year. Occupant fatalities in 2021 totaled 2,723, up more than 11% from 2020.
Every parent’s goal is to keep their child safe. Read this week’s blog to learn the common causes of teen motor vehicle accidents and ways you can prepare your child for driving on the road.
Who is Most at Risk?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among teens ages 16-19 than among any other age group. Teen drivers in this age group have a fatal crash rate almost three times as high as drivers ages 20 and older per mile driven.
Teens who are especially high risk for motor vehicle crashes include:
- Male drivers ages 16-19 years old are three times as high as the death rate for female drivers in the same age group as of 2020.
- Teen driving with teen or young adult passengers increases the crash risk of unsupervised teen drivers. This risk increases with each additional teen or young adult passenger.
- Newly licensed teens particularly during the first months of licensure. Data indicates that the crash rate per mile driven is about 1.5 times as high for 16-year-old drivers as it is for 18 to 19-year-old drivers.
Common Accident Causes
The CDC and other insurance and road safety organizations have identified various factors that contribute to the high rate of teen driving accidents, including:
- Lack of experience necessary to navigate the roads safely, especially at night and on the weekends.
- Difficulty navigating hazardous areas and situations.
- Higher distraction rates, such as being on their cell phone or texting while they drive.
- Passengers who can be a distraction.
- Reckless driving like speeding and driving too close to other vehicles.
- Avoiding using their seatbelt.
- Less concern with driving or riding in vehicles with drivers who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Preparation Strategies
Your best strategies for preparing your teen are education and practice. It’s important to educate your children on the dangers of not wearing a seatbelt, driving under the influence and distracted driving. You should also discuss dangerous roadways and hazards to watch for.
To increase your child’s safety, choose a vehicle that has a high safety rating and spend time practicing with your teen at all hours and in all weather conditions to get them more familiar. Make sure their vehicle has safety devices, including a tool to escape entrapment.
Click here to find more information on how to keep teens safe on the road.
How the Dinizulu Law Group Can Protect Your Rights After a Car Accident in Chicago, Illinois
If you have suffered bodily injury, property damage, or lost a loved one in a car accident near Chicago, Illinois, it is important to seek legal counsel as soon as possible. You may only have a limited amount of time to pursue a lawsuit for your motor vehicle accident under Illinois’ statute of limitations laws. Call the Dinizulu Law Group today for guidance on your rights, insurance filing requirements and legal options toward damage compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation by calling (312) 384-1920.
