Crash highlights importance of gaining experience, driving responsibly

February 28, 2014 (Press-News.org) Getting a driver's license at age 16 is an exciting time for many teenagers. In order to earn their licenses, most will undergo months of supervised driving and safety education to gain experience and learn how to drive in dangerous conditions. Laws exist in Nevada and every other U.S. state that require teenage drivers to obtain a learner's permit while learning how to drive. This is an important safeguard; car accidents are the leading cause of death of teenagers in the U.S., say the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In 2010, 20 drivers between the ages of 16 and 20 were involved in fatal crashes in our state, while 3,407 were involved in crashes that resulted in injuries, according to the Nevada Department of Transportation. A recent trend among teenagers to delay getting their driver's licenses may actually increase the risk of younger drivers causing an accident later, says AAA.

According to AAA's study, more teens are putting off the milestone of getting a driver's license for various reasons, including the high cost of gasoline and maintaining and insuring a car. Many claim to be able to get around without needing a car to drive. While this can seem like a good way to avoid causing an accident, it may be more harmful in the long run when young adults decide to get a license. Most graduated driver's license laws don't apply to new drivers over the age of 18, meaning that many drivers can get a license without first gaining life-saving experience.

Experience Is Vital For Teen Drivers And Others On The Road

Teenagers are three times more likely to be in a fatal accident than people older than 20, but graduated license programs have shown to reduce accidents involving 16-year-old drivers by as much as 40 percent. With accidents caused by younger drivers starting to increase, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts, it's more important than ever that teenagers gain valuable driving experience.

A lack of experience may have been the case in a tragic accident earlier in February that claimed the life of a mother in Las Vegas, and severely injured her two teenage children. ABC 13 Action News reported that a 17-year-old driver ran a red light with his pickup and slammed into the other vehicle.

Teen Driver Source says there are several common reasons teenagers get into accidents:
- Speeding and not obeying traffic laws.
- Texting and driving.
- Being distracted by friends, cellphones, other handheld devices or food.
- Inexperience driving in poor road or weather conditions or at night.
- Driving under the influence.

Many teenagers are also known to not wear their seatbelts, either as drivers or passengers, which could increase their risk of being killed or seriously injured in an accident. With months of experience and guidance before getting an official driver's license, many accidents can be prevented.

People who have been in an accident caused by a young or inexperienced driver should contact a personal injury attorney to find out if they are eligible for the compensation of their medical expenses and other losses.

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