There are many reasons why teen drivers cause major collisions. Many collisions involving underage motorists are the result of a lack of experience. Teen drivers with limited practice on the road have a hard time handling unusual situations effectively. The decisions that they make in traffic can have tragic consequences.
Additionally, teenagers have brains that have not yet fully matured. Young adults often have difficulty controlling their impulses and considering the long-term consequences of their decisions. They know they shouldn’t reach for their phones while driving, but they feel compelled to check their notifications anyway.
Some teenage car crashes occur during the school year. However, the most dangerous time of year for young adults to be on the road is fast approaching.
The summer months are a dangerous time for young drivers
According to crash data in Massachusetts, 167 teenage drivers caused fatal crashes between 2013 and 2022. These crashes caused 182 deaths, and many of those wrecks occurred in the summer months. According to collision statistics, far more fatal crashes involving teenage drivers occur in the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day every year than throughout the rest of the year.
The summer is a dangerous time for young adults to be out on the road. They have more freedom than usual because they do not have class. As such, they may be out with their friends. Young passengers can be a dangerous distraction for new drivers.
Young adults also tend to experiment during high school and college, which may mean that they try alcohol or drugs. They may then drive home after consuming those mind-altering substances at a party or a friend’s house.
Distraction, intoxication and a lack of familiarity with unusual traffic circumstances can all increase the likelihood of a young driver causing a crash. The summer sees a noticeable increase in teenage collisions, including deadly crashes with tragic consequences.
Parents with young drivers may need to talk with them about their risks. Everyone else sharing the road with inexperienced motorists may need to watch their surroundings more carefully for warning signs of dangerous underage drivers.
Learning more about factors that contribute to motor vehicle collision risk can help drivers of all ages and experience levels protect themselves. The summer months can be a particularly dangerous time for newer drivers because they have more opportunities to make questionable choices in traffic.
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