Statistics have proven time and again that summer is the most dangerous 100 days on the road year in and year out. Specifically, the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are rife with accidents, and there is one key culprit: new drivers.
New drivers – teen drivers, really – are a major force behind extremely damaging and injurious collisions all summer long. But why is that?
Distracting behaviors
Teenagers are, well, not tied to their phones. But you get it. Between texts, Instagram, TikTok and whatever app du jour is flying through high schools, there are a lot of distractions ahead. When you add passengers – their friends – you find a great deal of trouble.
Speeding
Going fast on the highway in southern California is a right of passage. Anyone who gets behind the wheel of a car tends to let it fly as fast as they can, at least for a little bit. When that person is a teenager getting their first taste of that kind of freedom, speeding can be hard to stop.
However, speeding is a major contributor to accidents all year round. They have less time to react to changes in situations leading to dangers.
Inexperience
Why do new drivers speed when they may get in situations they can’t handle? Primarily, the reason is that they may not know better. Driving fast, driving at night, driving in bad weather – what little there is here in San Diego- are all skills. People learn how to deal with them over time. A teenager with a first taste of driving hasn’t had those experiences yet, and they will be worse for it.
Substance abuse
Sadly, young people have one final struggle when it comes to being on the road: substance abuse. Whether it’s drinking and driving or using other drugs, younger individuals are much more likely to use and drive than other groups. Using drugs and alcohol leaves an already risky driver impaired, and that’s a recipe for disaster.
However, if you’ve been injured in an accident with a teen driver, you have options to get help with your medical bills.