In the early morning hours of July 16, a car full of New Jersey teenagers was involved in a crash on Route 23 South by the Smoke Rise Turn, according to law enforcement officials and news reports. The investigation that followed the accident determined that the vehicle veered off the roadway and traveled sideways across the grass median before hitting a guardrail and flipping over. Law enforcement agencies are investigating whether alcohol and reckless driving played a part in the accident.
Teenagers and Car Accidents
Every time a motorist ventures out onto one of the nation’s roadways, he or she is at risk for being involved in an accident. That risk multiplies significantly when a teenage motorist is behind the wheel. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death for 15 to 19 year olds. A shocking 19 percent of the fatalities in 2007 were related to young driver crashes. The crash rate per mile driven for 16 to 19 year olds is four times as high as that for older drivers, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, or IIHS. NHTSA statistics tell us that over half of all teenagers who died in car accidents in 2007 were not wearing a safety belt.
Teenagers are new to the driving world. Just as someone who is new on the job doesn’t just jump in and know how to perform the job, teenagers don’t really know how to drive yet. Understanding the basic rules of the road is not the same as truly knowing how to navigate a busy interstate or predict an accident in time to avoid it. When this inexperience is combined with the use of alcohol, the results are often deadly.
NHTSA statistics tell us that in a recent year, almost one-third of all traffic related fatalities involved alcohol impairment. That number goes up when teenage drivers are involved. This means that people with very little experience behind the wheel are the most likely to be driving while under the influence – a bad combination for anyone on the roadway.
Federal, state and private agencies and organizations are working to educate teenagers about the risks of drinking and driving. Many states, including New Jersey, have instituted a graduated driver’s license program that requires young drivers to complete different phases of restricted driving before being granted a full-fledged, unrestricted driver’s license.
New Jersey Car Accident?
If you have been injured in a New Jersey car accident, our personal injury lawyers may be able to help with your legal claim. With seven offices conveniently located in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area, we have an office near you. Contact the firm today by calling 888-446-2783 for your free consultation or fill out our online contact form.