The Governor’s Highway Safety Association (GHSA) out of Washington, D.C. published a report indicating that the number of teen driver deaths jumped sharply during the first half of 2012. The premise of this particular government agency study is to focus solely on the teen driver (not the passenger or bystanders, which they feel is a good indicator of teen behavior behind the wheel.
Preliminary GHSA data shows that deaths of 16 and 17 year old drivers are up 19% as compared to the same period in 2011. This is sad data considering the strong downward trend that has been developing in this age group over the last several years.
Most experts believe that distracted driving is a major culprit in this uptick in teen deaths. The problem of distracted driving is by all accounts a growing problem. As Car Accident Attorneys, we deal with tragic cases involving distracted driving on a daily basis. If you are the parent of a teen driver, please talk to them about the importance of waiting to text, and even more importantly set a good example by not exhibiting these behaviors yourself.