Personal injury, death a problem with teen drivers in the summer

On Behalf of | Jul 1, 2020 | Firm News

The roads of Ohio can be dangerous, especially for teens. The summer is particularly treacherous as more people are on the road. With teens out of school, there is a bigger chance that they’ll get into serious auto accidents. The time from Memorial Day to Labor Day is referred to as the “100 deadliest days.” This should be considered when taking to the road.

During the 100 deadliest days between 2008 and 2018, there were more than 8,300 fatalities in auto accidents with teens behind the wheel. That comes to seven people per day every summer. Given the current health situation with the closing of schools, fewer teens having summer employment and activities canceled, teens could be on the road more frequently. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety says teens have triple the chance of being in an auto accident at age 16 and 17 than adults.

Inexperience is a factor, but surveys indicate teens take part in various unsafe behaviors. According to the AAA Foundation Traffic Safety Culture Index, 72% of drivers between ages 16 and 18 said they did at least one of the following in the previous month: drove 10 mph over the speed limit in residential areas (47%), drove on the freeway 15 mph above the limit (40%); texted and drove (35%); went through a red light (32%); were guilty of aggressive driving (31%); drove drowsy (25%); and failed to wear a seatbelt (17%).

Parents can take steps to mitigate their kids’ risky behaviors by explaining the importance of safe driving, being vigilant about allowing them on the road alone and setting a good example with their own driving. Regardless, accidents remain possible. For someone who has been hurt in an auto accident, a legal filing might be needed to recover compensation. Experienced legal advice could be helpful in moving forward.

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