Young Driver Crashes

According to a new study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) fatalities from crashes involving young drivers have accounted for just under one-fifth (20%) of all fatalities on the Nation’s roads. This population of young drivers has specific characteristics that set them apart from older drivers as well as a specific set of laws pertaining to their ability to drive.

Previous research has shown that young drivers lack the experience behind the wheel that most older drivers possess, do not have the same maturity level as older drivers, and are more prone to risk-taking behavior. These characteristics influenced the development of graduated driver licensing (GDL) programs in different areas of the country to provide opportunities for experience, lessen the opportunity for risk-taking behavior, and educate young drivers about hazards on roadways. While these programs are greatly beneficial, young driver-related crashes remain a prevalent issue in our Nation.

The Numbers

Youths 15 to 20 years old represented 9 percent of the U.S. population in 2007 and 6 percent of the licensed drivers; however, 19 percent of the fatalities in the United States in 2007 were related to young-driver crashes. Approximately two-thirds of the people killed in fatal young-driver crashes are the young drivers themselves or the passengers (of all ages) of the young drivers. Of the passengers killed riding in vehicles with young drivers, 67 percent are in the same 15-to-20-year-old age group as the drivers. Fifty-six percent of the fatal crashes and 57 percent of the fatalities involving young drivers occur on rural roadways.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Nashville automobile accident involving a young driver contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorney’s at Phillip Miller & Associates and take advantage of a free consultation to find out about your rights.

Young Distracted Driver No Seatbelt

According to the Springfield police officer investigating a three vehicle collision on the Tom Austin Highway that left one dead and eight injured, neither alcohol nor drugs appeared to be a contributing factor. An article in the Nashville Tennessean said that Joshua Wooten, 20, of Adams was driving a Chevrolet Cobalt when he unexplainably crossed the center-line and side-swiped a Ford Expedition driven by Silas Gardner, 51, of Nashville causing it to spin off the roadway.

Mr. Wooten’s vehicle then crossed the centerline and crashed head-on into a vehicle driven by Sherry Tubbs, 41 of Springfield. Ms. Tubbs had two adults and five children in the van with her. All eight people in Ms. Tubbs’ car were taken to Vanderbilt and Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. All but one passenger were released and Mr. Wooten was pronounced dead at the scene, he was not wearing his seatbelt.

My heart goes out to the family of Mr. Wooten for their tragic loss. I offer my deepest condolences to everyone who knew and loved this young man. Please keep them in your prayers. I also hope for a speedy recovery for Ms. Tubbs and her passengers, and thank god that no one in Mr.Gardner’s vehicle were injured in what could have been far more deadly than it was.

If I was the lawyer for either Ms. Tubbs or Mr. Gardner I’d focus my investigation on just what was going on at the time Mr. Wooten crossed into the oncoming lane. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration approximately 80% of roadway crashes are caused by drivers who have been distracted just prior to the collision. The majority of distraction collisions over the past five years have been caused by cell phone use. Was Mr. Wooten using his cell phone? Was he texting? Something had to cause him to take his eyes off the road.

Young drivers, ages, 15- to 20-years old, are especially vulnerable to death and injury on our roadways, traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers in America. Mile for mile, teenagers are involved in three times as many fatal crashes as all other drivers. Teens buckle up far less frequently than adults do. Despite efforts aimed at increasing belt use among teens, observed seat belt use among teens and young adults (16 to 24 years old) stood at 76 percent in 2006, the lowest of any age group. In fact, in 2006 the majority (58%) of young people 16 to 20 years old involved in fatal motor vehicle crashes were unbuckled.

The Nashville personal injury law firm of Phillip Miller & Associates,  is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well