Causes of Teenage Car Crashes

In a previous Keller & Keller article (Know the Most Dangerous Teen Driving Distractions), we examined a report by ABC News that examined deadly distractions facing teenage drivers. As a follow up, we are supplementing this list with a teen driver fact sheet provided by the CDC.

The CDC has examined the main causes and risk factors facing teenage drivers, as well as provided parents with helpful information that can help make the roads safer for their teenager and their fellow drivers.

Top causes of teenage car accidents according to the CDC:

1. The Age Risk Factor

The younger the driver, the less experience, the more likely an accident will occur. Also related to the Age Risk Factor is the maturity of a driver. A teenage driver is not likely to exhibit the same thought patterns and self-discipline of a more experienced, mature driver.

2. The Time of Day Factor

The time of day that a teenager gets behind the wheel can also play a role in the likelihood of an accident and the severity of that accident. Statistics have shown that fatal teenage auto-accidents commonly occur at night. Night driving requires skill and experience that teenage drivers are likely to be without.

3. Having Other Teenagers in the Vehicle

According to the CDC, having other teenagers in the car has been proven to result in more accidents and more fatalities. Teenagers are more likely to take risks, and becoming distracted with their passengers or their surroundings is one of the leading risks.

4. Driving A Smaller Vehicle or an SUV

Teenagers are more likely to be injured while driving a smaller car that does not provide adequate protection in the event of an accident. Their are also similar risks associated with SUV's, as a teenager is more likely to roll an SUV due to inexperience in the handling a larger vehicle that has a higher propensity to roll-over due to over-correcting, etc.

Teenagers need cars that provide adequate safety to protect them from injury or death, due to their high accident and collision risk rate. Parents may buy their teenager a small, inexpensive vehicle that gets good gas mileage, or simply let them borrow their SUV, but these choices can prove fatal if the teenager is not properly educated on how to drive safely. SUV’s roll and small cars can be deadly in accidents.

Statistics on teenage car accidents and teenage drivers are evident. However, many of these risk factors can be reduced if parents will take the time to educate their children to help them become smarter AND safer drivers, thus ensuring their safety as well as the safety of everyone else on the road.

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