Every single day, more teen drivers hit California roads for the first time. With so many new, inexperienced drivers, more car accidents occur. It’s worth wondering if the rate of accidents can be reduced when teens take driver education.
What can cause teen drivers to get into car accidents?
Teen drivers are more likely to get into car accidents that lead to personal injuries. There are a variety of factors that can cause crashes when teens are behind the wheel. First is their inexperience. Because they are new at driving, they’re three times more likely to get into an accident than people who have been driving for years. They might not know how to react in certain situations.
Distracted driving is more common with teen drivers. It’s also the leading cause of accidents that result in catastrophic injuries. Teens typically have an attitude of being invincible or believing nothing bad will happen if they use their cellphones while driving. However, talking, texting, browsing social media and taking selfies are common practices and can result in serious crashes.
Speeding is another big problem that can cause teen drivers to get into car accidents. Boys, in particular, are more likely to travel several miles per hour over the legal speed limit and put others at risk.
Because of their inexperience, nighttime driving is another factor that can lead to teens getting into crashes. If they aren’t completely alert while driving in the dark, there is a much greater risk of an accident occurring.
Can driver education classes decrease teen car accidents?
Studies have shown that teen drivers who have driver education classes are less likely to get into car accidents. They are also less likely to commit driving violations when they take classes. Driver education gives younger drivers the opportunity to learn how to drive more safely and react in various situations on the road. This helps to reduce the risk of accidents.