Do a simple Google search under "high risk drivers in Arizona." According to the Arizona Department of Motor Vehicles, "[t]eens tend to be high risk drivers because of limited experience, insufficient skills, poor judgment, and often unsafe behavior." Continuing your search will show you that car accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers, and 16 year old drivers have the highest crash rates than drivers of any other age.
It gets worse. Sixteen year olds are 3 times more likely to die in a motor vehicle accident than the average of all drivers. Though this age groups comprises only 7% of licensed drivers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2003, 3657 drivers age 15 to 20 died in car accidents, making up 14% of all driver involved fatal crashes, and 18% of all drivers involved in police-reported crashes. Teen drivers killed in motor vehicle accidents had a youth passenger 45% of the time. The Insurance Institute For Highway Safety reports that almost half of the 2003 fatal accidents involving 16-year old drivers occurred when the beginning drivers were driving with teenage passengers, and 16 and 17-year old accident death rates increase with each additional passenger. One more thing: the 16-year old population in the United States will grow from 3.5 million to over 4 million by 2010.
Graduated teenage drivers license programs, such as what we have in Arizona with the Class G license, are having a small but positive effect on reducing teenage accidents. Mesa Public School's high school campuses have been closed to eliminate teenage drivers from speeding away to grab a quick lunch and return on time for class.
We now have a 16-year old driver in our home, along with an increased car insurance bill. While some are good drivers, most younger drivers pose a greater risk to the rest of us. We must do all we can to teach teenagers the driving skills and common sense they will need to make it home safely, as well as those with whom they share the streets. We must also make sure we have sufficient auto insurance coverage.
I am not an insurance agent, but would be happy to give you advice from a personal injury attorney's perspective as to what insurance you need - with or without a teenager in your home.
If you have any questions about personal injury/accident law please contact Rowley Chapman Barney & Buntrock and ask for Kevin J. Chapman at (480) 833-1113.
