Andrew Kim Law Firm, PLLC | Washington Legal Blog

NHTSA teen driver safety program

Leading Cause of Death for Teens - Traffic Crashes

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA's) reported that young drivers, ages 15 to 20 years old are especially vulnerable to death and injury on our roadways.  Car and truck crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers in America.  Mile for mile, teenagers are involved in three times as many fatal car accidents as all other drivers.

Motor vehicle collisions make up 35% of teen deaths, 16% homicide, 12% suicide, and 37% all other.

Research shows which behaviors contribute to teen-related auto accidents.  Inexperience and immaturity combined with speed, drinking and driving, not wearing seat belts, distracted driving (cell phone use, loud music, other teen passengers, etc.), drowsy driving, nighttime driving, and other drug use aggravate this problem. 

These statistics are a bit surprising to even me, an experienced car accident and personal injury attorney who has handled quite a large number of car accident, truck accident, and motorcycle crash injury claims over the past 15 plus years. 

Research clearly shows three steps in reducing teen crashes –

1)  Increase seat belt use,

2)  Implement graduated driver licensing, and

3)  Reduce teens' access and use of alcohol and/or drugs

These are three things that we all should be striving to do on a consistent basis for the safety of our children.  The Andrew Kim Law Firm, PLLC provides information to help parents make well informed decisions regarding the well being of their kids.

Labels: car children crashes death fatal injury kids roadways Safety Teen traffic