Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog
We tend to post frequently about teen drivers on our Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog because we want parents and teens to stay informed. We are also hopeful we can be of help to you in making smart decisions and reducing the risks of teen car accidents in Weston, Sunrise and elsewhere.
Now that school is back in session, Boynton Beach car accident lawyers worry about young drivers because they can get distracted easily with school, friends, extracurricular activities and events. Losing focus for even a second while driving can change a life forever.
According to the traffic crash statistics recently released by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there was no change in the number of teen drivers killed in crashes in 2010 compared to 2009. Nearly seven teen drivers died every month in 2010 on average. There were nine fewer teen passengers killed in crashes in 2010 compared to the previous year. Teen drivers injured in a crash in 2010 remained about the same as the previous year: 10,563. In the same year, teenage passengers injured in a crash decreased by almost 8 percent from the previous year. There were 2,637 fewer teen car crashes in 2010 than the 29,485 reported in 2009. Teen drivers between the ages of 15-19 had the highest rate of involvement in crashes per 10,000 licensed drivers than any other age group.
In examining the statistics a little more closely between the ages of 15 to 29, data indicate that 18 year olds are the most at risk of being involved in an accident. Eighteen year olds had the highest rate of involvement in fatal crashes (3.56) and the highest rate of involvement in all traffic crashes (465.64) throughout Florida.
Young drivers have a tendency to take a carefree attitude that can lead to bad choices. Many of them think nothing will ever happen to them or that there will be no consequences for their actions. The FLHSMV motto for teen drivers is Drive With CARE — Courtesy, Attention, Responsibility and Experience.
Another valid concern for most parents is how to keep their teenager from driving under the influence.But the FLHSMV reported 23 fatal teen crashes involving alcohol in the 15-19 year old age group and 100 alcohol-related fatal crashes in the 20- to 24-year-old age group. Among 15 to 19 year olds, 18 year olds accounted for almost half of the fatal crashes with alcohol involved, reporting a total of 11.
Most teens probably don’t realize how easy it is or under what circumstances they can lose their driver’s license. FLHSMV points out the following reasons a teen’s license can be restricted or taken away:
-Possession of tobacco under the age of 18. Conviction of the offense can lead to minimum of a six-month license suspension and could be as much as a year.
-Failing to go to school can lead to a suspended license. A teen’s license remains revoked until he or she can prove attendance at school for 30 consecutive days.
-Drivers under age 21 caught driving under the influence get a six-month suspension of their license when blood-alcohol concentration is .02 or more. The penalties get stiffer for refusing to take a test or for repeat violations.
-Teen drivers who receive six points on their driving record for violations during a 12-month period are restricted to driving for business purposes only for 12 months or until they reach age 18.
-A teen driver with a learner’s license cannot apply for an intermediate license within one year of conviction if he or she has been cited with a written violation during the beginning phase of obtaining a license.
If you or your teen has been injured in a car accident in Plantation, Delray Beach, Fort Pierce, Coral Springs or the surrounding areas, contact Freeman, Mallard, Sharp & Gonzalez, LLC for free initial consultation. Call 1-800-561-7777 to speak with an attorney today.
More Blog Entries:
Driving Behaviors Examined to help Reduce Driver Distraction in St. Lucie Car Accidents, Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog, September 20, 2011.