Distractions are the primary reason why teenage motorists have a much higher risk of accidents while driving with other teen passengers. That fact was confirmed recently by an AAA study, which found that when 16 and 17-year-old teenagers drive their car with other teen passengers, there is an increase in risky behaviors.
The research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety used federal crash data, and found that when 16 and 17-year-olds drive with teen passengers in the car, they are at an increased risk for speeding. That is not hard to understand, because these are teenage passengers, who may be impulsive, aggressive and hormonal. All these factors combine to encourage a tendency towards risky practices, like speeding, which can cause a serious or even fatal accident.The research also found that the incidence of late-night driving increased if a motorist was driving with teenage passengers. The risk of driving under the influence of alcohol also increased when there were teenage passengers in the car.
The bottom-line that every Missouri car accident lawyer would point to is this – when teenagers are driving with passengers of their own age group, they are at a much higher risk of an accident. Teenagers driving other teens simply equals deadly consequences.
The AAA is calling on parents to communicate the hazards that come from driving with passengers of the same group to their teenage children. Parents have a huge role to play in polishing teen driving skills, and must step up to their responsibility in raising a generation of informed and aware drivers. That means setting strict rules for driving with teenage passengers, driving at excessive speeds and late-night driving.
