EARLY TEENS - A DEADLY TIME FOR CAR CRASH FATALITIES
According to a study performed by The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and reported in the New York Times, car-related fatalities among youth go up at age 12 and continue to increase for several years. The researchers, led by Dr. Flaura Koplin Winston, based the data after a review of more than 45,000 crashes over a 6-year period in all 50 states.
Researchers pointed to several possible reasons for the increase in youthful auto accident fatalities. One possible theory is that the children were more likely to be riding in cars with young drivers at the wheel. Failure to wear seat belts was another factor. The study indicated that passengers in cars that were driven by a 16-17 year old were at a substantial increased risk of death.
Young drivers are more easily distracted with passengers in the car. In fact, in a recent survey performed by the University of California, more than 1/3 of teenage drivers surveyed admitted they had been distracted when young passengers were in the car. The drivers surveyed cited talking, yelling, and arguing as distracting them while driving.
Studies have shown that there is a higher risk of crashing when teenage drivers carry teen passengers. Reviews of 16 and 17 year-old drivers involved in fatal crashes, where no adult was in the car, indicated that more than half carried a passenger less than 20 years of age. In fact, the study indicated that young drivers who carried two or more teen passengers experienced higher risks for a car crash. In 2000, 63 percent of the deaths of 13- to 19-year-old passengers occurred when other teenagers were driving.
Obtaining a driver’s license and operating a motor vehicle has become a rite of passage in this country. As our children continue to take to the streets in record numbers, it is important that we arm them with all the tools they need to remain safe on our busy highways. NY Auto Accidents, however, can still occur, and the results can often be devastating. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car crash through the negligence of others, please call Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro, LLP for a personal consultation.
