Any driver can be involved in a fatal accident, but the statistics do show that there is a correlation between accident rates and age. Specifically, teenage drivers have the highest fatal accident rate out of any age group. They are a small age group, usually just encompassing those from 16 to 19, But their fatal accident rate is disproportionately high.
When you continue to look at the statistics, you’ll see that there is a decline in fatal crashes as drivers get older. They’re slightly safer in their early 20s, but significantly safer in their 30s. Below are two potential reasons why this happens.
Gaining experience
First and foremost, teenage drivers lack experience, which leads to a lot of these accidents. A driver may be following too closely just because they don’t have experience maintaining a proper following distance, so they cause a rear-end accident. Or they may not slow down the first time they drive in the rain, causing their car to hydroplane, so they lose control of the vehicle. As teenagers gain experience, they stop making these obvious mistakes and become safer drivers, but it just takes time for them to get to that point.
Growth and development
Another thing to consider is the way that the human brain is still developing through the teenage years. The prefrontal cortex isn’t fully developed until someone is around 25 years old. This is the portion of the brain that is responsible for decision-making and impulse control. So some young drivers make poor, impulsive decisions just because of their age.
If you have been injured in a car accident caused by a teen driver, or if you’ve lost a loved one, be sure you know what legal options you have to seek compensation.