Report: Younger drivers involved in fewer fatal crashes

A recent report from the Governors Highway Safety Association, an organization dedicated to studying and promoting traffic safety, concluded that fatal accidents in the United States involving drivers under 21 dropped 38% between 2002 and 2021.

The report had other good news for young drivers and their loved ones. The number of drivers under 21 who died in traffic accidents dropped almost 45% over the last two decades.

By contrast, in the same period, the number of drivers over 21 who died in accidents increased by 11%.

Breaking the data down by state, Washington saw an almost 35% decrease in the rate of drivers under 21 who were involved in fatal motor vehicle accidents.

One of the reasons for this encouraging trend is that people may be waiting longer to start driving. There are fewer youthful drivers on the roads these days.

However, the report gave a nod to graduated licensing laws, which require younger drivers to show responsibility and gain experience before getting unrestricted driving privileges.

As part of its suggested for continued progress, the Association also recommended that all youth be able to access driver education programs. Private driver training programs can be quite expensive and even cost-prohibitive for some families.

The legal system is also a way to encourage safer teen driving practices

Seattle-area victims of negligent drivers have the option to file a lawsuit against those drivers to recover needed compensation for their injuries. This is true no matter the age of the responsible driver.

But filing a personal injury or wrongful death claim also sends a message to teen drivers and their parents that if they want to operate a motor vehicle, they must do so safely and responsibly. If they do not, the victim can hold them legally responsible for all the damage they cause.

Likewise, the legal system is also there for the families of teens who get injured or killed by a negligent driver.

Matthew D. Dubin

Matt Dubin has spent more than 20 years honing his skills as one of the top personal injury lawyers in the State of Washington. In his career, Matt has focused on protecting consumers from dangerous household products, medical mistakes, roadway accidents, and many other causes of injury. Matt has recovered nearly $20 million on behalf of his clients.

Education

• University of Washington School of Law, Seattle, Washington – J.D.
• Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut – B.A.

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