Summertime Accidents Peak for Teen Drivers
School is now out for summer which means that many teen drivers in Delaware will be practicing their driving skills on Delaware’s roads and highways. The unfortunate reality is that many teens will be seriously hurt or killed in car accidents this summer. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), auto accident crashes are the number one cause of death for young people between the ages of 16 to 24. Roughly 6,000 teens are killed in car accidents each year, and a staggering 320,000 more suffer serious injuries in traffic accidents. Here’s another startling fact – 1 in 5 teens will be involved in a crash within the first year of getting a driver’s license.
Related: 2014 Fatal Car Accidents in Delaware (As of April 14, 2014)
Teen Drivers & Distracted Driving
Teens who are just learning to drive are susceptible to many distractions, the obvious one being cell phone use. Teen drivers in Delaware must understand that it is not only illegal in this state to use a cell phone to call, text or email, using a cell phone when driving can lead to fatal car accidents. This year, multiple teens around the country have been killed in texting and driving car accidents.
Other Distractions
Cell phone use is not the only distraction teens must be aware of. Even talking on the phone while using an earpiece or headset is distracting. In addition, other distractions include:
- eating,
- drinking,
- disruptive passengers, and
- loud music.
Any one of these are distractions in and of themselves. For instance, a driver who reaches down to pick up a bottle cap from a soda bottle must take their eyes and attention off the road, and a serious accident could result.
Related: Cell Phone Use – A Major Distracting Causing Car Accidents in Delaware
In addition, when two or more distractions are combined, serious accidents are more likely to occur. For example, an inexperienced driver may use a cell phone to send a text message while simultaneously eating. This combination of factors can lead to major accidents.
In addition, it is important to note that even talking on a phone with a headset is distracting and therefore dangerous, especially for inexperienced drivers. Research shows that talking while driving can lead to serious auto accidents, like pedestrian accidents. For instance, a teen driver lawfully using a headset to talk on the phone may be too distracted to notice a pedestrian walking across the street.
Related: Child Car Seat Safety in Delaware
5 Tips for Teen Drivers in Delaware
- Always wear your seatbelt and require all passengers to wear their seatbelts.
- Put your cell phone away. Don’t even talk on the phone using a headset/ear piece.
- Don’t drive if you’re tired.
- Keep passengers under control.
- Avoid eating and drinking when driving.
About Knepper & Stratton
The lawyers at Knepper & Stratton focus on accident cases such as car accident cases and employment matters. If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident in Delaware, please call for a free consultation. (302) 658-1717
*Disclaimer: This website page does not provide any legal advice or create any attorney-client relationship. Every case is unique and you should not take any action or make decisions in your case without speaking to a qualified car and truck accident lawyer in Delaware. Any discussion of results is no guarantee of the same or similar results in current or future cases.
*Use of the contact form on this website or emailing one of our lawyers does not create any attorney-client relationship. In addition, confidential information should not be sent through the contact form.
