Important Statistics and Information You Need to Know to Help Keep Your Teen Safe on the Road
Recently, there has been increased focus on the dangers that surround young drivers. More and more statistics are being released that are making parents more and more concerned about their child’s safety. Motor vehicle crashes account for a large percentage of teen deaths and a 2010 study showed that at least seven drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 die every day in car accidents. Understanding the dangers teen drivers face is the first step in helping to keep them safe while they are behind the wheel.
Staggering Teen Driving Statistics
When it comes to understanding the risks and dangers for teen drivers on the road, looking at the harrowing statistics is the best place to start. In 2010, it was estimated that 2,700 teen drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 were killed and 282,000 were seriously injured as a result of a motor vehicle accident. These statistics support information that explains how young people between the ages of 15 and 24 only represent 14 percent of the United States population but account for approximately 30 percent of the total costs associated with injuries caused by car accidents.
Teens are at Higher Risk
Compared to drivers in other age groups, teens between the ages of 16 and 19 are at a much higher risk of being involved in motor vehicle accidents. In fact, they are three times more likely to get into an accident than drivers aged 20 and over. A study has also shown that young males are two times more likely to get into an accident than females and newly licensed drivers and teens with passengers are also at a much higher risk for being involved in a motor vehicle incident.
What Makes Teens a Higher Risk for Accidents?
There are a number of factors that contribute to the increased risks for teens behind the wheel. For one, young drivers are more likely to underestimate dangerous road conditions or situations than older, more experienced drivers. Also, teens are surprisingly less likely to use their seatbelt when compared to other age groups – a 2011 study showed that only 54 percent of high school age individuals reported they wear their seatbelt when driving or riding with someone else.
The statistics that surround teen driving can be frightening, but knowing the risks that teen drivers face and acknowledging they exist is important in helping to keep them and other travels safe on the road. Reviewing and explaining this information with teens can help them realize how truly dangerous driving can be. When parents take an active role in their teen’s driving, teens are less likely to engage in risky behaviors behind the wheel.
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*Photo Courtesy of Howard Lake via Creative Commons License