May Is Global Youth Traffic Safety Month
Every high school student dreams of getting their driver’s license. It is important to remember, however, that driving is a legal privilege and not a right. And unfortunately, many teen drivers lack the experience and maturity to safely exercise that privilege.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among U.S. residents between the ages of 16 and 19. More than 2,200 teenagers died in car accidents in 2014–approximately six deaths every day. More than 221,000 were injured during that same time period.
Overall, the CDC says teenagers are “three times more likely” that older drivers to be involved in a fatal crash. Additionally, teenage males are more than twice as likely to die as teenage females. And the presence of other teenagers in a car with a teen driver also significantly increases the risk of an accident.
Understanding the Risks for Teenage Drivers
Each April, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) lead a “Global Youth Traffic Safety Month” (GYTSM) campaign to promote safe driving practices among teenagers. April is a perfect time to raise safety awareness, given that many teenagers are about to graduate from high school and enter summer break. In fact, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety notes that teenage car accident deaths peak between May and August.
So what are the major risk factors for teenage drivers?
- Not wearing seatbelts. According to a survey of sponsored by AAA, 66 percent of teenage drivers who die in car accidents were not wearing seatbelts. Texas and New Mexico both mandate seatbelt use by all drivers. So not only is buckling up good safety practice, it is also the law.
- Distracted driving. Today just about every teenager is permanently welded to their smartphone. But teenagers need to learn that when they are driving, 100 percent of their attention must stay on the road. Distracted driving accounts for about 58 percent of all teen-related traffic crashes, according to AAA. This includes texting, talking, or even listening to music while driving.
- Tired driving. A less-publicized but equally dangerous risk for teenage drivers is falling asleep at the wheel. Teenagers may think they are invincible, but they are just as prone to sleep deprivation as older drivers. Surveys cited by NOYS found 55 percent of crashes attributed to falling asleep involved drivers under the age of 26.
- Driving While Intoxicated. It should go without saying that driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, such as marijuana, is illegal and unacceptable. Yet AAA found 25 percent of teenagers–1 out of 4–ignore such prohibitions.
Has Your Teenager Been Injured in a West Texas or New Mexico Car Accident?
It is easy to hold teens solely to blame for car accidents. But reckless and negligent driving is hardly limited to people under the age of 20. If your teenager has been injured in an accident that was not their fault, you should speak with a qualified El Paso, TX and Las Cruces, NM personal injury lawyer right away. Contact the Lovett Law Firm to schedule a consultation with an attorney today.