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A new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety suggests that there may be a correlation between older vehicles and teen drivers.
According to the study, which examined data on vehicles of drivers ages 15-16 who died in auto accidents between 2008 and 2012, nearly half of the teen drivers were driving a car more than a decade old. Furthermore, approximately 80 percent of teens were driving a vehicle that was at least six years old.
The issue with older vehicles is that they often lack life-saving features such as side airbags or electronic stability control, which was not required in vehicles until 2012. Electronic stability control has specifically been found to reduce single car fatalities by 50 percent.
Despite teen car accident fatalities decreasing by 70 percent since the late 1970s, teens are still three times more likely to be in a fatal crash than an adult driver. In 2011, more than 2,600 teens died in car crashes; specifically, in Florida, more than 50 teens died in motor vehicle accidents in 2013.
Although it may be more economical to insist that a teen purchase an older, less expensive vehicle, their inexperience behind the wheel this could be putting them in danger. When buying a car for your teenager, keeping your child safe may be worth spending a little more.
If your teenager has been injured in an auto accident caused by a careless driver, the victim may be entitled to file a personal injury claim for damages. At Gordon & Partners, our personal injury attorneys are dedicated to fighting for the injured and can help you determine what your legal options are.
For a free review of your claim, call 1 (855) 722-2552 or fill out our Free Case Evaluation form.
