The Rate of Young Driver Fatalities Is Currently Down in the U.S.

Although there has been a lot of bad news most of 2023, highway safety experts are providing us with some good news to end our year. The news is that the number of young driver fatalities is currently down across the country. In past years, we have seen many increases in fatalities on roadways, highways, and interstates. Therefore, this report gives us a nice glimmer of hope.

What does the data say about the rate of young driver fatalities decreasing?

According to an article published by the Associated Press, car accident and fatality rates have dropped significantly across the United States for drivers who are under the age of 21. This is great news since this age group is new drivers and typically considered the most hazardous and riskiest of all drivers. A non-profit group of state highway offices, the Governors Highways Safety Association (GHSA), made the announcement by stating that between 2002 and 2021, the fatal accidents involving a young driver under the age of 21 decreased by almost 40 percent, and young driver deaths decreased by about 45 percent.

The data did show that drivers who are older than 21 years of age experienced increasing amounts of fatalities and deaths. The deaths for those who are over 21 increased by 11 percent, and the fatalities increased by eight percent.

What may be causing the reduction in fatal accidents among young drivers?

There are many factors mentioned in the article that may play a role in the reduction in fatal car accidents among young drivers. A few of these factors include:

• Young people are driving a lot less than they were over two decades ago.
• Several states have implemented specific programs to increase safety among young drivers. These programs may forbid young drivers from driving at night, with several people in the vehicle, or from doing certain activities while driving.
• Some young people are choosing to wait until they are older to get their driver’s licenses.

Why young drivers are at risk of accidents

The writer of the GHSA report, Pam Shadel Fischer, mentioned that young drivers are still the most dangerous and most high-risk drivers, and the reasons given for this are “immaturity and inexperience.” Here are some of the various risk factors that come with young drivers being on the roadways:

• Immaturity: Teenagers who recently got their driver’s licenses may want to show off to their friends. This is because they are excited to have their driver’s license and may want to show that they are “the cool kid” who can drive. This can lead to bad ideas and decisions being made, which can result in serious and fatal accidents.
• Inexperience: Teenagers and young drivers do not have much experience driving at all. They may have no experience, very little experience, or only a couple years of experience. Therefore, they have not had the time to develop their driving skills or learned how to properly navigate the roadways. As a result, they either hesitate a lot, become nervous, or overestimate their driving capabilities, which puts themselves and others they share the roads with at risk of accidents.
• Reckless and careless driving: Teenagers and young drivers are more likely than other age groups to participate in reckless and careless driving. This is because they may want to show off, or they may have more road rage and aggression. As a result, young drivers are more likely to speed, run red lights, make unsafe lane changes, and tailgate.
• Distracted driving: While every driver is known to drive distractedly at some point on the roads, young drivers are especially distracted as they typically do not take the risks and dangers of distracted driving as seriously as other age groups. They may text and drive, talk on the phone and drive, send emails while driving, watch videos while driving, eat while driving, and more.
• Alcohol and drug use: A lot of teenagers and young drivers attend high school or college parties or other events that have alcohol or drugs. When this happens, they may try to drive themselves home or back to their college dorm to avoid getting in trouble. However, intoxicated or drunk driving mixed with inexperience and immaturity can turn into a complete disaster. As a result, many car accidents involving young drivers involve alcohol or drug use and typically result in catastrophic injuries or fatalities.

Are parents or guardians liable for their children’s car accidents?

The Arizona Department of Transportation (DOT) states that “if you are at least 16, but less than 18, years of age you will be issued a graduated driver license that is valid to operate any vehicle that does not require a motorcycle or commercial driver license.” However, in order to obtain this graduated driver license, a parent or legal guardian must assist the young driver in applying for and earning the graduated license.

If you are a parent or guardian who has a teenager wanting their license or just received their license, you may benefit from knowing what role you play in your child getting their graduated driver license. You may have known that you are required to sign for your child’s license in Phoenix, but you may be unaware of what this means. According to Arizona Statute 28-3160, as a parent or guardian who signs for the graduated driver license, you are legally responsible for any misconduct or negligence of the minor child when they are driving a motor vehicle. You may no longer be responsible for your child’s misconduct or negligence if they are financially responsible for themselves.

If your teenager is involved in a car accident, Arizona has made it clear that there is a good chance that the parent or guardian can be held liable. Even if you were unaware or never gave permission to your child to drive a vehicle, you could be held responsible for any reckless or careless action that they make behind the wheel. In order to know for sure, consider speaking with a Phoenix car accident lawyer about the facts and circumstances involved in your case.

If you have been involved in an accident with a young driver in Phoenix, AZ, the car accident attorneys at Plattner Verderame, PC are here to help you navigate the complexities of these cases. Our team knows and understands the laws surrounding these types of accidents, and we will do everything we can to stand up and defend your rights as well as demand compensation for your damages. Call our office or complete our contact form today to schedule your free consultation at one of our two office locations, which are in Tempe and Phoenix. We look forward to meeting you soon!