Distracted driving is an unsafe habit that many people associate with teen drivers in particular. Young adults have grown up with digital technology and are often quite dependent on their devices for day-to-day matters. Many people worry that they could end up in a crash caused by a distracted teenage driver.
They may give younger drivers more space in traffic due to the assumption that they are more likely than others to cause distracted driving collisions. However, when looking at an analysis of distracted driving collisions, the data does not support the assumption that teen drivers are the most pressing safety concern. Instead, crash risk increases when drivers are older and more mature.
What does crash data show?
Teen drivers can and do cause distracted driving collisions. However, they are responsible for a lower number of distracted driving crashes than older motorists. According to data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drivers who are past their college years are actually the biggest source of distracted driving risk in traffic.
The age group with the greatest chances of causing deadly distracted driving wrecks includes those between 25 and 34 years of age. They caused more crashes than drivers and motorists between the ages of 21 and 24. Older driver age groups also had reduced risk when compared with those between the ages of 25 and 34. Distracted driving crash rates are noticeably lower for those in their 40s and beyond.
Overconfidence in personal driving skills and a belief that they may not be subject to the same degree of scrutiny as younger drivers may contribute to the distracted driving crash risk of motorists between the ages of 25 and 34. So, could their prevalence on the road be due to their obligations as new parents and ambitious professionals?
Most people may struggle to identify distracted drivers or accurately estimate the age of other motorists on the road. Instead of trying to give specific drivers more space, drivers may want to commit to avoiding distraction on their own behalf.
Regardless of the age of the driver who caused a distracted driving collision, they may be liable for the consequences of their choices. Filing an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit can help people recoup the expenses generated by a distracted driving collision.
