Common Reasons of Utah Teenage Driver Crashes

Teenage drivers are far more likely to be the victim of a car crash than somebody who has been driving for 30 years. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 2,400 teens died and another 258,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes in 2019. According to the Utah Department of Public Safety, in 2020, teenage drivers were responsible for more motor vehicle crashes in the state than any other age group. Here are a few of the major factors that our Provo car accident attorneys at Howard Lewis & Petersen recognize as to why teenage drivers can be so dangerous to themselves and others:

Inexperience: It takes years of driving experience to be able to recognize and avoid dangerous and quickly developing crash scenarios. According to our Provo accident attorneys, a driver with only a year or two of limited experience is going to make mistakes while still gaining the necessary experience.
Excessive Speed: A simple law of physics is that the faster we travel, the more distance it takes to stop. Our Utah car accident attorneys also see excessive speed in the context of the inability for teen drivers to slow down in heavy traffic or weather conditions.
Distracted Driving: Distraction occurs when a driver participates in any activity that takes one or both hands off of the steering wheel, his or her eyes off of the roadway and mind off of driving safely. Texting and talking on a cell phone are the two most prevalent forms of distracted driving. Any Provo personal lawyer from our law firm will advise that it’s illegal to use a cell phone in any way while driving unless the driver is using a GPS app or talking hands-free while driving.
Drinking and Driving: A Utah teenage driver accident attorney from our office tells both parents and teens that a blood alcohol concentration of .05 is illegal in the state. Utah has the lowest DUI limit in the nation. It’s also a zero tolerance state for teen drivers. Any amount of alcohol in the blood of a teen who is driving is strictly forbidden.
Drowsy Driving: When a person is behind the wheel and drowsy, it’s just about as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol. The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that 10% of all motor vehicle crashes are caused by drowsy driving, and about half of those involve drivers between the ages of 16 and 24.

Helping Teens Become Safer Drivers

Long before they’re even eligible to get a learner’s permit, your kids will be learning driving habits from you. A Provo personal injury attorney from our offices recommends that you be a good influence. Your teen will likely be required to take a driver’s education class in high school. You can also enroll him or her in an insurance company’s safe driver program. Check on whether your insurer has such a program. If your teen successfully completes it, you’ll not only have more peace of mind, but you and your teen might be eligible for a discount. Here are some other things that you can do to teach them to be responsible drivers once they have their license.

Buckle Up: No matter how safe of a driver that your teen might be, he or she could get hit by a negligent driver.
Control Speed: Impart an awareness of stopping distance, the proper interval from the car ahead and to never consume any alcoholic beverages before driving.
Phone Off or Silent: Your teen can check on calls or messages upon arriving at their destination.

Should your teen be injured by a negligent driver, contact a Provo personal injury lawyer from our offices right away. We don’t want an insurance company to take advantage of your teen. We can help preserve, protect and asset your teen’s right to compensation for their injuries and damages.