Parents have a right to be concerned during this time of year, as Memorial Day is the beginning of what has come to be known as the 100 deadliest driving days for teens.
It might sound a little unsettling, but there is significant data to back it up. A new study released by AAA’s Foundation for Traffic Safety shows that over the past five years, the average number of accidents that involve drivers between the ages of 16 to 19 increased by 16 percent a day during the “100 deadliest days” period when compared to the rest of the year.
The AAA study also revealed that almost 60 percent of crashes involving teenage drivers are a result of distractions. And more often than not, that distraction may be the passengers in the teen driver’s car. The risk of allowing your teen to drive with passengers in their car should not be taken lightly. The National Safety Council has determined that having passengers in their car increases a teen driver’s risk of being involved in a fatal collision by a shocking 44 percent.
Some states have taken measures to reduce this risk, with laws that ban or strictly limit the amount of passengers that are allowed in the car of a recently licensed driver. Indiana’s current passenger law limits the passengers a driver, up to 21 years old, to siblings, their own children or a spouse for the first six months after receiving their license. Indiana also bans the use of any telecommunications device while driving, which includes the use of Bluetooth or other hands-free devices.
Our years of experience in handling personal injury claims at Pfeifer, Morgan & Stesiak have shown us the serious consequences that an accident caused by distracted driving can have for all involved.
We hope you’ll take the opportunity to share this information with your teen driver and help make this summer a safer one for everyone. If you have questions regarding an accident involving a distracted driver or if you or a loved one have been injured in an accident, we offer a free initial consultation.
Contact us at (574) 444-0741 today.
