Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
Are Teen Drivers More Dangerous?
Traffic accidents are more common during the summer months, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). For teen drivers, the period of time between Memorial Day and Labor Day are the “100 deadliest days of summer.” This is partly due to the increased number of teen drivers on the road during summer vacation. There is increased traffic on the roads that can make it more dangerous, especially for drivers who have less experience behind the wheel.
Crashes Involving Teens
NCDOT gathers information about accidents in the state. They publish accident reports, including data on teen drivers. Their report from 2021 indicates that in the period between Labor Day and Memorial Day in 2021, there were more than 3,000 accidents involving teenage drivers. Of these crashes, at least 2,600 were hurt, and 29 teens were killed. NCDOT states that while there are many reasons for accidents, distracted driving may be one of the most common causes of accidents among teen drivers.
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Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of accidents, especially among teen drivers. Distracted driving may include any number of activities that take your mind off driving, your eyes off the road, or your hands off the wheel. Some common distracted driving actions are changing the radio station or fiddling with the GPS, eating or drinking, and talking to passengers. Likely the most serious form of distracted driving is using your cell phone. Teens are prohibited from using any type of mobile communication device while the vehicle they are driving is in motion.
Teen Insurance Rates are High
Car insurance companies are aware that younger drivers are more likely to be involved in traffic accidents. The rates for teen drivers and those in their early 20s are much higher than for those drivers who are older. The Insurance Information Institute reports that when you add a teen driver to your insurance policy, parents may expect an increase of between 50% to 100% of their current premiums. These high rates are a direct impact of the statistics that bear out the fact that teen drivers can be more dangerous than older drivers.
Graduated Driver Licensing Program
The graduated driver licensing program (GDL) uses levels to allow teen drivers in North Carolina the ability to obtain their licenses in a safe manner. A Level 1 permit allows a teen driver to practice driving with a licensed adult at their side. A teen must have 60 hours of logged driving time and pass a road test in order to progress to Level 2. A driver must have their permit for at least six months before they can progress. A Level 2 Limited Provisional License allows a teen to drive without an adult on a limited basis.
Accidents can occur more frequently with teen drivers than with teen drivers than with others. If you were hurt in an accident that was due to the other driver’s negligence, you may be owed compensation for your damages. Contact us today at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 370-2828 to schedule a free initial consultation.
The skilled personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to maximizing the financial recovery and obtaining justice for every personal injury client injured by another party’s negligence. The issues our personal injury clients may be facing include, but are not limited to, slip and fall injuries, wrongful death, product liability, catastrophic injuries, dog bite claims, car and truck accident injuries, motorcycle injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), nursing home negligence, spinal cord injury, boating accidents, and defective medical device injury. Our personal injury attorneys understand the devastating impact such an injury can have on a person’s life, and that the effects so often go beyond physical pain and suffering. The personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to helping clients determine the strength of their claims, and to aggressively pursuing the means necessary to achieve the best possible end result for each client’s particular situation.
Source:
Official NCDMV: Graduated Licensing (ncdot.gov)
N.C. Department of Transportation (ncdot.gov)
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