One-third of fatal car accidents involving teenage drivers take place at night and 57 percent happen prior to midnight, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
A total of 49 states restrict nighttime driving by teens, but 23 states do not restrict driving for teens until midnight or later. These restrictions do not protect the majority of teenage drivers who are on the road at night, according to researchers.
The CDC study’s authors suggest that law enforcement officials back down nighttime driving restrictions to much earlier in the evening, with exemptions for teens who work or play sports.
The main concern for researchers is that teens tend to be inexperienced driving at night. That along with risky behaviors like driving while impaired, speeding and the distractions of teen passengers can contribute to severe injuries and death.
Researchers also suggest that law enforcement crack down on enforcing seat belt usage and underage drinking.
CDC researchers analyzed 6,104 auto accidents involving 16 and 17-year-old drivers during the study time period. Their report, published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, looked at crashes that took place between 2009 and 2014.
Tips for Parents
The CDC advises parents to spend as many hours as possible riding along with their teen at night because it takes many hours of night driving for young people to become proficient.
If you have a teenager who was recently licensed, consider implementing nighttime driving restrictions and talk to your teen about safe night driving.
Have you been injured in a car crash? Contact the South Bend car accident lawyers at Pfeifer, Morgan & Stesiak today. Our injury attorneys are here to assess your claim for free to see if you may be entitled to receive compensation.
Contact us today by calling (574) 444-0741.
