Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that young drivers have a very high risk of being involved in serious accidents. For example, drivers between 16 and 19 years old have one of the highest fatal accident rates of any age group. These rates are high for a variety of reasons. For instance, the CDC notes that young drivers may engage in behaviors that increase their risks, such as not wearing a seatbelt. Driving at night can also increase the odds of being involved in a serious crash.
But these are risks for drivers of any age, so what is it about young drivers specifically that makes them more likely to be involved in fatal accidents?
A lack of experience may be the ultimate cause
One fundamental issue is that young drivers simply lack the experience that older drivers have. For example, the highest crash risk is often during the first few months after someone gets their driver’s license. At age 16, a driver’s crash rate per mile driven is 1.5 times higher than that of someone who is 18 or 19 years old. All of these drivers are teenagers, but the one who just received a license is more likely to be involved in an accident.
Experience plays such a major role because it takes time for young drivers to develop their skills and abilities. They need practice and time behind the wheel. This helps them get better at identifying dangerous situations and learning how to respond safely.
But because they need that real-world experience on the road, this also means they can put other drivers at risk as they learn. Those who have been injured in accidents caused by inexperienced young drivers may deserve financial compensation for medical bills and other damages.