Teenagers in Hartford, New Britain, Norwich and Manchester are the age group involved in more motor vehicle collisions than any other demographic group on the road. An experienced personal injury lawyer knows a lack of driving experience among teen drivers is one of the big reasons they are involved in so many collisions. Teenagers are also more likely to get in crashes when they have friends in the car with them; are more likely to use cell phones in a dangerous and distracting way; and are more likely to drink or use drugs while driving, as compared with people in other demographic groups.
Because teens present a risk to themselves and others when they make careless choices, it is important to do everything possible to protect these young people as they get their licenses. One of the most important changes that has helped to bring the death rate down is the adoption of graduated drivers' licensing programs.
Graduated Licenses Help to Save Lives by Reducing Teen Collisions
Graduated drivers' licensing programs exist in every state in the U.S., as well as in the District of Columbia. The first of these programs was put into place in 1996 in Florida but as the programs have shown success, other lawmakers have imposed new restrictions on the rights of teenagers to operate motor vehicles.
Graduated licensing programs work by slowly introducing teen drivers to the process of operating a motor vehicle. Teens first get a permit and are only allowed to drive when they are being supervised by someone in the car with them. Teenagers then move to having a restricted license before they are finally given full driving privileges.
There are different types of restrictions imposed. In states with the most stringent restrictions, graduated driver's licensing programs have caused a 20 percent average reduction in the number of car insurance claims that are made by teenaged drivers. In states with moderate restrictions, there has been a 15 percent reduction in the rate of auto accident claims made by teenagers to car insurers. Finally, in states that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has described as having "marginal" restricted licensing programs, there has been a 10 percent reduction in the number of insurance claims made after accidents involving teenage drivers.
As teenage drivers have made fewer car insurance claims after accidents, car insurance premiums have declined according to Nerd Wallet. Thus far fewer people are dying in collisions involving teen drivers. In 2004, teenage drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 were involved in 5,724 fatal motor vehicle crashes. In 2013, on the other hand, 2,568 teenage drivers were in fatal traffic accidents. This is a 55 percent reduction in the number of motor vehicle accident deaths. There were other factors at play as well, but evidence suggests graduated licensing has been responsible for a 10 to 30 percent reduction in deadly accidents with teenage drivers.
Protecting teens and others on the road is important, and it is essential that teenagers and their parents know and follow all the rules for graduated licensing.
Contact a Hartford accident attorney today at the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli. Call 1-800-WIN-WIN-1 for your free case consultation or visit http://www.salomoneandmorelli.com. Also serving New Britain and Norwich to Manchester, New Haven and the Waterbury-area.