Negligent teen drivers and the 100 deadliest days

You were in an accident during your commute to or from Ann Arbor, Michigan, and perhaps the other driver was a teenager who was speeding, driving distracted or engaging in some other negligent or reckless behavior. Sadly, this is not uncommon as teens are inexperienced drivers and more prone to take risks.

Teens and negligent driving

If a recent AAA Traffic Safety Culture Index is any indication, speeding is the most widespread form of negligent driving among teens. Seventy-two percent of respondents aged 16 to 18 admitted to unsafe driving in the past 30 days, and of these, 47% said they went 10 miles over the speed limit in a residential area while 40% said they exceeded the speed limit on the highway by 15 miles.

The other actions that the survey respondents admitted to were texting (35%), running red lights (32%), aggressive driving (31%) and drowsy driving (25%). Seventeen percent said they did not wear their seat belt.

About the 100 deadliest days

With all of this in mind, it’s not surprising that for every mile traveled, drivers aged 16 to 17 run three times the risk for a fatal crash than do adults. The risk goes up especially during what are called the 100 deadliest days, which span from Memorial Day to Labor Day. More than 8,300 people died in teen driving crashes during this period between 2008 and 2018.

The annual rise in fatalities during the 100 deadliest days could be reversed, of course, especially with the help of parents. Parents are expected to talk to their teen about the dangers of all those negligent actions brought up in the AAA survey, not to mention other big items like impaired driving. Parents could also coach their teens in-vehicle on safe driving techniques.

Legal representation in serious injury cases

You suffered serious, debilitating injuries at the hands of a teen driver, and you’re wondering how you can be compensated. It may be wise to see a lawyer who deals in motor vehicle crashes and who is ready to provide your case with personal attention. It all starts with a case evaluation.