One of the most exciting times in a young person’s life is getting a driver’s license. Being able to drive gives a teen a sense of maturity and freedom. However, the unfortunate reality is that many young drivers are not fully capable of operating a motor vehicle safely because of their inexperience. This lack of experience combined with a tendency to act without considering the consequences is putting a number of New York teens in danger of getting into a serious car accident.
A report was recently released by the Governors Highway Association that suggests that teens are actually getting into more fatal accidents for the first time in about 10 years. For the past decade, the number of deaths among teenagers in traffic collisions has been steadily declining. However, during the first six months of 2012, the number of fatalities among drivers aged 16 and 17 increased by an alarming 19 percent.
These statistics are very worrisome and seem to indicate a dangerous trend. In recent months, several devastating and fatal accidents have taken place around the country that has cost a number of teenagers their lives. While there is no one reason for the increase in these crashes, sources suggest that distraction and reckless behavior play a significant role in many of the accidents.
Drivers of any age must take care to avoid reckless driving on the road. Speeding, texting, swerving, aggressive driving and following others too closely are all behaviors that must be limited behind the wheel. If they are not, a person can end up causing a catastrophic accident that can seriously or fatally hurt themselves and other motorists.
Source: MyFoxNY, “Cluster of fatal teen car crashes belies US trend,” Betsy Blaney, March 12, 2013
