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Most individuals think of themselves as good drivers, but sadly, this doesn’t prevent them from being involved in an auto accident. In fact, research in the insurance industry shows that the average driver will have to file an auto accident claim once every 19 years. This goes to show that even the best drivers can be involved in a collision. What people don’t realize, however, is that their chances of experiencing an accident could go up during the fall due to back-to-school student drivers hitting the road.
Dangers that Young Drivers Pose
It’s important for all drivers to understand why teens pose a particular risk when behind the wheel. The simple fact is that these drivers are inexperienced behind the wheel. While there are surely safe teen drivers out there, it cannot be denied that a certain level of safety can only be attained by experience.
The problem with teen drivers is larger than most people realize. In 2010 alone, the leading cause of death for teenagers was motor vehicle crashes. That same year, around 2,700 teens between the ages of 16 and 19 were killed in automobile accidents. Even more disheartening is the fact that drivers between the ages of 15 and 24 make up 14 percent of America’s population, but they account for about 30 percent of all auto crashes. Understanding these statistics is vital if an individual hopes to understand the dangers that they face during the fall.
What are the Risks?
Young students usually have to have their parents or a bus transport them to school, but this changes in high school. Around four million students enter high school each year, but these students are often too young to drive. It’s important to note, however, that there were 16.3 million high school students reported in 2010. Even when accounting for the four million freshmen who may not be able to drive, this still leaves 12.3 million high school students of driving age.
There’s no doubt that teens drive throughout the year, but when school is back in session, all student drivers who have vehicles will be on the road at the same time. This greatly increases the chances that they and other drivers on the road will be involved in auto collisions. In fact, the highest recorded number of crash deaths of any month between the years of 1975 and 2002 occurred in 1980 during the month of August, also known as back-to-school time.
Teen drivers present a certain amount of danger to those on the road around them, and unfortunately, when school goes back into session during the fall, a huge influx of these students hit the road. Even the safest drivers can experience a crash due to the inattentiveness and inexperience displayed by teen drivers. Because of this, drivers need to be especially vigilant during the months of autumn if they hope to avoid a serious accident.
Make sure everyone in your family is safe in the car. Give Danback Insurance a call today at 512-454-4567 and let us find the Austin Auto Insurance policy for you.