A recent teen car accident in New York killed an 18-year-old driver and injured a number of other motorists.
It all happened when an SUV, filled with 7 occupants under the age of 20, flew through a stop sign and collided with another vehicle shortly before 10:00 p.m., according to PIX11. The young driver’s vehicle flipped over during the accident. The driver of that vehicle reportedly left the scene of the accident, leaving the injured in the flipped vehicle.
Eight victims involved in the accident were taken to the Staten Island North University Hospital, where an 18-year-old was later pronounced dead.
Our New York City car accident attorneys understand that the dangers and the risks of driving on our roadways may not be apparent to inexperienced teen drivers. For this reason, New York practices a Graduated Drivers Licensing (GDL) program.
Under this program, no one under the age of 16 is permitted to drive a motor vehicle. When a driver turns 16, they can apply for a learner’s permit (or a provisional permit). There are a number of restrictions for 16-year-old drivers in New York. These restrictions limit the number of passengers allowed in the teen’s vehicle, the hours a teen may drive and who they’re required to drive with.
Once a driver has turned 18, or 17 and has completed a Driver Education Course, they are then allowed to apply for a Class D license, which is an unrestricted license.
GDL programs may not be all that promising for drivers once they’ve completed the program, however. According to CNN Health, an analysis of crash data from states that practice a strict GDL programs revealed that restricted drivers experience 26 percent fewer fatal accidents, but unrestricted drivers age 17 and older experience an increase of more than 10 percent in fatal accidents once they’ve reached this licensing level.
“Right now, we’re not getting the net effect across all teens that we’re hoping for,” says Scott V. Masten, Ph.D., lead author of the study published in the American Medical Association.
Researchers believe that this steady increase in accidents involving the older teen drivers is caused by a sort of “payback” for being restricted as a young driver. Once they’re granted unrestricted driving privileges, they’re exposed to far too many road hazards at once. Others believe that the increase has to do with the number of drivers who completely skip the restricted stages of the program and hold off on getting a driver’s license until they’re 18.
“They’re saying, ‘Forget it. I’ll wait till I’m 18,'” Masten says.
This recent study illustrates how important it is for parents and guardians to stay involved in a teen’s driving career. This is just as important long after they’ve received an unrestricted license as it is during the permit stages. With more involved parents, we can help to mold our teen’s driving habits into safe, cautious and accident-free skills.
If you or your teen driver has been involved in a car accident in Queens, Manhattan or surrounding areas of New York City, contact the Law Offices of Nicholas Rose, PLLC for advice about what to do next. For a free appointment to speak with an attorney call 1-877-313-7673.
More Blog Entries:
Teen restrictions fail to curb fatal crashes, by Amanda Gardner, CNN Health
More Blog Entries:
New York, Northeast Region Noted for Dangerous Drivers Involved in Most Car Accidents, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, September 14, 2011
Speeding and Driver Inattention Are Common Causes of Teen Car Accidents in New York City, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, August 29, 2011
