Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for teens in Michigan, and all of the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Teen immaturity, lack of experience and skills often play a role in these accidents. The following facts about teen drivers shed some light on the subject.
Age
A 2021 article by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported that teen motor vehicle accidents are more likely to occur between the ages of 16 to 17. And that among teens aged 16 to 19, the occurrence of fatal crashes is three times higher than for drivers aged 20 or older.
High-risk
Teen boys between the ages of 16 to 19 are more likely than teen girls to die in a crash. Unsupervised teen drivers are also at higher risk for crashing if passengers are in the vehicle.
The number of passengers traveling in a car can also increase the likelihood of motor vehicle accidents. The more people in the car, the higher the risk of an accident. It’s believed that teens are more willing to take dangerous chances when driving with their friends. Also, it’s easy to become distracted when other teens are in the vehicle.
Timeframe
For people of all ages, driving at night is more dangerous than driving in the daytime. But for teen drivers, nighttime driving is more deadly. In 2020, 44 percent of teen driving fatalities occurred between 9 pm and 6 am. Weekends were also the most deadly days, with 50 percent of teen driving fatalities occurring during that time.
Speeding, driving while distracted and failing to use seat belts are common factors in many teen driving fatalities. Some teens also drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. You might consider speaking with your teen about the importance of safe driving.
