Who is it safer to get in a car with: a 16-year-old or a 76-year-old?
Hint: It’s not Grandpa or Grandma.
Nearly one in five of all passenger traffic deaths occurs when a teenager is behind the wheel. Older drivers — up to their mid-80s – have half the crash rate per mile than teenage drivers.
Talk about a generation gap!
Following are some other youth-versus-seniority driving statistics from the American Automobile Association:
- Vehicle wrecks are the top cause of death among teenagers.
- Teenage motorists experience distraction at a higher rate than older operators.
- Vehicles with bigger engines and elevated horsepower are embraced by younger motorists.
- Experienced drivers are more conscious about safety, less inclined to operate a vehicle while intoxicated, less likely to text and drive, more likely to buckle up.
- Older drivers avoid volatile conditions such as driving after sunset, during a downpour or at peak travel times.
- Speed is a factor in fatal crashes involving teenagers at a much higher rate than it is for more seasoned drivers. Teens are in more single-vehicle crashes than any other age group.
Free Consultation with a Michigan Personal Injury lawyer at The Michigan Injury Lawyers
Injured in a vehicle accident? Got a question about auto insurance or coverage? Call an auto injury lawyer at 866-474-8357 or use this online contact form. The Michigan Injury Lawyers represents clients throughout Michigan, including Macomb County, Oakland County, Warren, Clinton Township, Sterling Heights, St. Clair Shores, Mount Clemens, Utica, Roseville, Troy, Farmington Hills, Waterford, Southfield, Pontiac, Birmingham, Rochester Hills, West Bloomfield and Bloomfield Hills.