Teen drivers face a greater risk of accidents once they get behind the wheel. A 20% increase in teen driving accidents between 2013 and 2022 demonstrates the dangers that new drivers face. While those risks usually drop after the first 1,000 miles of independent driving, teenagers should still understand the contributing factors that affect their roadway safety. Here’s a look at the biggest risks teen drivers face on the road.
A Lack of Experience
Even though teens must study the driver’s manual released by the Department of Motor Vehicles and pass the written exam, those steps don’t fully prepare them for the road. Spending time behind the wheel will help teens feel more confident as they hone their driving skills. Until they adapt to the road, they might make foolish mistakes or misinterpret the potential danger in some driving scenarios. Their inexperience makes teen drivers more likely to commit critical driving errors.
Evening and Weekend Driving
Teen drivers tend to become distracted more easily than experienced drivers. This is a bigger problem at night when visibility is low. A recent study found that 44% of teen traffic fatalities occurred between 9:00 pm and 6:00 am. Additionally, traffic accidents involving teens are more likely to occur on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. In the 2020 study, 50% of teen accidents happened within that Friday-Sunday timeframe.
Poor Seatbelt Use
While wearing a seatbelt doesn’t necessarily affect the risk of an accident, it does play a role in determining the severity of injuries. This is a concerning factor since teens wear seatbelts at a significantly lower rate when compared to adult drivers. When looking at teen traffic fatalities, 56% of incidents involved teens who were not wearing their seatbelts.
Distracted Driving
There are many different causes of distracted driving, and teens seem to struggle with these issues more than adult drivers. Some types of distracted driving include mobile phone use, eating or drinking, fidgeting with the vehicle’s console, and applying make-up or combing hair. In a 2019 survey, 39% of teen drivers admitted to distracted driving at least once within a 30-day period.
Unsafe Driving Habits
The most common high-risk driving habit among teens involves speeding. However, running stop signs or lights and following too closely behind other vehicles also contribute to teen traffic accidents. When it comes to traffic fatalities, 38% of male drivers between 15-20 years of age had been speeding at the time of the accident. The same survey found that 18% of female drivers within that same age range were also speeding prior to their accidents.
Substance Use
Even though there are age limits on alcohol consumption and most illicit drugs are illegal, teen drivers still struggle with driving under the influence. A 2020 study found that 24% of male and 17% of teen drivers involved in fatal traffic accidents had been driving while intoxicated. Marijuana is the most common drug used by teen drivers. In a survey, 13% of teens admitted to smoking marijuana while driving within a 30-day period. Both alcohol consumption and drug use impair drivers and affect judgment, response times, and driving ability. These effects are especially dangerous for inexperienced teen drivers.
Driving Courses Help Teens Stay Safe
Even the best teen driver still has the inexperience that raises accident risks. They can improve those risks and stay safer by attending defensive driving courses designed for new or young drivers. Teens who take one or more driving courses reduce the chances of making poor driving decisions by 65%. That can significantly increase the safety factor for teens when driving alone or with friends. While you work to help your teen establish safe driving habits, remember that some situations are unavoidable, and they should know what steps to take if they are involved in an accident. Including, moving their vehicle from traffic, calling emergency services, seeking medical care, gathering accident photos and information from witnesses and contacting a lawyer if necessary. Parents working to educate their teens on safe driving practices is an important step in assuring they can stay safe behind the wheel.