The top cause of death for teenagers in the United States is auto accidents. But parents can take steps to prevent deaths before their teens set out. These guidelines (see below) can reduce the chance of your child being involved in a crash or being seriously injured.
Parents not only hold the keys to the car, but they hold the key to educating their teenagers about safe driving practices. Setting up rules, providing a safe vehicle, setting an example, and informing young people about consequences can help.
“We as parents have just got to step up our game,” said Attorney James Johnson. “We cannot send teens to driving school without also providing a support network at home.”
Young teen drivers in the United States, spend less time behind the wheel than every other driver age group other than the oldest drivers. However, the number of crashes and crash fatalities are disproportionately high, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The highest risk is for drivers ages 16 and 17 years old, but overall the fatal crash rate per mile drive for drivers ages 16 to 19 years old is triple the rate for drivers 20 years and older, the IIHS reports.
Fatality Statistics for Teens
In 2020, there were 2,738 teenagers ages 13-19 killed in the United States in motor vehicle collisions, up 14 percent from 2019, according to the Department of Transportation. In other words, 53 teens die in collisions every week. This is a sharp decrease of 69 percent from 1975 when there were 8,748 deaths (168 per week). , there are still ways to further prevent these deadly collisions.
However, one thing has not changed and that is male drivers account for most of the deaths. Today, male drivers make up two of every three teens killed in the 2020 collisions. In 1975, male drivers represented 75 percent of all teen traffic deaths.
Alcohol, Drugs, and Teen Drivers
Alcohol use by drivers ages 15 to 18 years old is a factor in roughly 19 percent of all traffic fatalities for this age group, even though the minimum drinking age is 21 in all states,
Furthermore, prescription and illicit drug use among teen drivers is also a factor in these deadly crashes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
There are a number of ways to help steer teenagers toward safe driving practices. The CDC has a Parents Safe Teen Driving Guide that can help parents set parameters. This guide includes a list of penalties and punishments a driver would get if they were caught breaking the law such as texting and driving.
5 Ways to Reduce Teenage Traffic Deaths
- Wear a seatbelt. Most deaths in traffic accidents involve someone not wearing a seatbelt. In fact, 51 percent of the 23,824 passenger vehicle deaths in 2020 were people not wearing a seat belt — the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Hire Uber, Taxi, or Limousine. The cost of hiring a rideshare, taxi, or limo is worth the investment to ensure a safe ride home for your teenager.
- Drop off/pick up teens at parties. Parents may opt to drop off their teenagers and pick them up at parties. Take turns with other parents whose kids are out together.
- Don’t Drink/Designate a driver. If you suspect your teen might be drinking or be out with a driver who is going to drink, ask them to designate a driver who is a trusted friend who doesn’t drink.
- No driving after dark. Most crashes or near-misses happen when it’s dark. Set a curfew for young teens until they have more experience. Also, all teens should avoid driving after 11 p.m. when there are more likely to be drunk or drugged drivers on the road, according to the National Safety Council.
Johnson Attorneys Group provides this information as a guide to help families make good choices. However, if you would like to contribute any information or have legal questions, please contact us as soon as possible. Our law firm is a proud, longtime supporter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
