Statistics can be tricky things. At least that’s the boilerplate argument for one New York Times article questioning the value of driver’s education courses for teen drivers. The author points to statistics revealing that Indiana teen drivers who have completed driver’s education report four times as many car accidents as their counterparts who skipped the course. At the same time, what isn’t reflected in the findings is the age of the more accident-prone group of young drivers. Neither, for that matter, is quality of instruction evaluated, nor is the demographic or background of the student considered.
Regardless of how statistics are measured, our New York City car accident attorneys know the simple fact is that car accidents remain the leading cause of death for U.S. teenagers – responsible for one in three fatalities among teens aged 16 to 19. According to the Center for Disease Control, nine teenagers are killed in car accidents each day. And in 2008, more than 3,500 teens were killed and another 350,000 injured due to car crashes.
The question is: why? Experts across all industry from insurance to transportation to education and health care agree a handful of factors contribute to the higher rate of teenage-related fatal car accidents. In general, teens lack experience to safely handle unexpected driving situations, so immaturity is a factor. Teens tend to speed more often than other drivers. They also are more likely to drink, and drink more than they can handle, and get behind the wheel. Lastly, they think they are infallible and are less likely to buckle up.
According to the Congressional Quarterly Researcher, there is a neurological factor to consider as well. From adolescence to age 21, the prefrontal cortex of the brain – which is responsible for risk management, decision-making and logic – is undergoing, basically, a major growth spurt. Which explains why an otherwise “mature” teen can uncharacteristically make a totally irrational, foolish, dangerous decision when behind the wheel. One that, unfortunately, often comes with life-altering, if not deadly, consequences.
The New York City car accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Nicholas Rose, PLLC, would like you to know we are available for a free and confidential consultation if you have been injured in a car accident. To schedule an appointment, call us at 1-877-313-ROSE (7673).
