Who Causes The Most Car Accidents?
Every one of us is capable of causing a car accident if we don’t obey the rules of the road. However, there are some groups of people that cause a greater proportion of car collisions than others. Read on if you’re curious to know who causes the most car accidents.
If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a car accident, you should contact an experienced Atlanta car accident lawyer at Graham Scofield Injury Lawyers. Our legal team will investigate your case, help you file a claim, and negotiate a fair resolution of your claim.
Call us today at (404) 939-9470, or reach out through our our online form to schedule a free, initial evaluation of your case.
Older Drivers Are Safer Than You Might Expect
Many people believe that seniors cause a disproportionate share of car accidents. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, seniors (age 70 and older) do cause more accidents than middle-aged drivers. However, they do not cause as many accidents as young drivers.
There is also some evidence that seniors are driving more safely now than they used to. For instance, even though seniors make up a greater proportion of the population now than before, they are involved in fewer fatal car collisions. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a total of 4,792 people ages 70 and older died in crashes in 2016 which is 18% lower than in 1997.
There are other factors that might contribute to the decreasing vehicular fatality rate of seniors, such as:
- safer vehicle technology
- use of ride share vehicles
- seniors’ increasing life expectancy due to healthier lifestyles
Also, some states now require older drivers renew their driver’s licenses in person. That way, a state representative can evaluate whether the senior is fit to drive.
Younger Drivers Are Still The Most Unsafe Drivers
Teens continue to cause the most collisions among any age group. Indeed, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, teen drivers have crash rates 3 times those of drivers age 20 and older.
Although teens are required to graduate from driver’s education programs, many still drive carelessly once they earn their licenses. Peer pressure induces many teens to drive unsafely. That typically leads to disaster. Other teens simply don’t have enough experience driving in hazardous conditions. As a result, they may make mental errors that lead to collisions.
Fortunately, teens are increasingly relying upon ride sharing services in lieu of driving their own vehicles. For instance, according to a PBS news article that pulled statistics from Michigan’s Monitoring the Future survey, the share of high school seniors across the country who have a driver’s license dropped from 85.3 percent in 1996 to a record low 71.5 percent in 2015. The drop has been sharpest in the South, where the share of high school seniors with a driver’s license fell from 88.6 percent in 1996 to 71.2 percent in 2015.
Women Are Safer Drivers Than Men
Men claim to be more knowledgeable about automotive technology than women. But, that perceived knowledge doesn’t translate to safer driving behaviors. In fact, according to a CBS news report, men are 3.4 times more likely than women to get a ticket for reckless driving and 3.1 times more likely to be cited for drunk driving.
Men are also more likely than women to die in U.S. traffic accidents. According to the CBS news report, in 2009, men died at a rate of 2.5 deaths per 100 million miles traveled, versus 1.7 deaths per 100 million miles traveled for women. That difference becomes particularly stark when one compares male teenage driver deaths to female teenage driver deaths. In 2009, male teenage drivers died at a rate of 9.2 deaths per 100 million miles traveled, versus 5.3 deaths for females of the same age.
All Of Us Should Drive Safer
Demographics give us a general understanding of the driving behavior of particular population groups. But, there is a great deal of variation among individual drivers. All of us can be safe drivers if we obey the rules of the road. Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind next time you’re behind the wheel:
- Don’t use your smartphone while driving. If you have to use it for GPS directions, make sure that you input the address before you put your vehicle into gear.
- Drive at or slightly below the speed limit.
- Consistently check your mirrors and blind spots, especially if you’re on the highway.
- Yield to all oncoming traffic whenever you’re attempting a left turn.
- Don’t tailgate vehicles in front of you.
Contact Graham Scofield Injury Lawyers Today
If you were injured in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, you should immediately contact an Atlanta car accident lawyer. The lawyers at Graham Scofield Injury Lawyers have helped their clients recover millions of dollars in car and truck accident cases. We’re glad to help you, as well.
Call us today at (404) 939-9470, or reach out through our our online form to schedule a free, initial evaluation of your case.