Our Car Accident Lawyers would like to share some relevant, emerging information.A new study conducted by the AAA Foundation shows a strong correlation between teen driver fatalities and the number of young passengers traveling in the video. The study states specifically that there is a strong association between the number and age of passengers present in vehicle and the risk of a teen driver dying in a traffic crash. The report shows that the likelihood of a 16 or 17 year old driver being killed in a crash, per mile driven, increases with each additional young passenger in the vehicle. Compared to driving with no passengers, a 16 or 17 year old driver’s fatality risk:
– Increases 44% when traveling with one passenger younger than 21
– Doubles when carrying two passengers younger than 21
– Quadruples when carrying three or more passengers younger than 21
– Drops 62% when carrying one passenger 35 years or older
The takeaway here is that there is a very real and serious risk that arrises with teens traveling together in cars that parents should be aware of. If you are a parent of a teen driver, you can have a huge impact on the safety of your teen by simply talking to them about the risks that arise from distracted driving, and driving with other teenage friends.