New Study Shows How California Law Lowers Risk Of Serious Teenage Auto Accidents
As a father of four children and an Alameda car accident lawyer, I have a lot of experience with teenage drivers. I've heard and seen just about everything when it comes to teenagers and driving. When my third youngest child got her license about three years ago, California had just enacted a new law, which placed more restrictions on teenage drivers.
That California law provides that a new driver under the age of 18 will receive a provisional license. During the first 12 months after obtaining the license he/she must not transport anyone one under the age of twenty at any time unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. Driving between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. is strictly prohibited.
You should have heard the complaints my daughter voiced for the entire 12 months that she was under the restrictions. Now, my youngest son is just finishing his provisional driving period and the kid's complaints and arguments, and my responses remain the same. Other kids in the car are a big distraction for new drivers, that can and do, lead to serious personal injury car accidents.
Now I have a new study to back up what I knew all along. The American Automobile Foundation for Traffic Safety released a report showing a strong relationship between the number of passengers in the vehicle and the risk of a teenage driver dying in the car crash. The study found that the likelihood of a fatal accident with a teenage driver under the age of 18 increased with each addition young passenger present in the car. Look at these eye popping statistics:
- Fatality risks increases 44% when carrying one passenger younger than age 21 (and no older passengers)
- Fatality risk doubles when carrying two passengers under age twenty-one;
- The risk of death quadruples when carrying three or more young passengers under the age of 21.
One of the kids' biggest arguments for driving other teenagers is the standard refrain "that everyone else's parents" allows them to drive others. So the first thing we have to do as responsible parents is to make sure our own kids are obeying the law. So, we shouldn't be allowing our kids to drive others while they still have their provisional license, nor should we allow our kids to be passengers in their friend's car while they have provisional licenses. Signing a parent teen driving agreement that the child will not drive others reinforces the importance of this. Make sure other parents are aware of the law if you know that their child is driving others while under age. Finally, help provide other transportation alternatives for the kids to alleviate some of the hardships that do arise sometimes by complying with this law.
We know anecdotally (and probably experientially) that the more kids are in a car, the more distractions there will be, and the greater likelihood of a serious or even fatal car accident. Now a study proves this. As responsible parents, it is our duty to make sure our kids comply with the law and drive safely. I encourage you to talk about this study with your children, and your children's friends' parents. The more our kids obey the provisional driver restrictions, the safer they will be.
Resources:
Teen Driver Safety, AAA Foundation For Traffic Safety, May 8, 2012
California Teens, California Department of Motor Vehicles
Facebook is the largest social network in the world. The company was recently in the news when it warned employers not to demand the Facebook passwords of prospective employees. Apparently, many employers are now attempting to get this information before hiring individuals. The company claimed that it's an invasion of privacy that exposes companies to legal liability. As an
Nerve injuries can be caused by car accidents, slip and falls, dog bites, cuts to the skin and by many other common means. Scientists are now working on new ways to help repair these serious nerve injuries.
Today, Highway 101 in San Francisco was closed down for over six hours after a big rig overturned and caught fire. The fire engulfed the cab after the rig overturned. Three other cars were involved in the accident, causing personal injuries to the occupants. The truck's driver and a driver of one of the cars involved in the collision were taken to a nearby hospital. There was substantial property damage also done by the fire, and by the truck colliding into the guardrail.
The California Supreme Court recently dealt a big blow to California consumers and personal injury victims. This follows a trend of decisions which favor large corporations and insurance companies over the rights and needs of the individual. It seems whether its in politics or in the court, the common man and woman are not faring very well in modern times.
On September 19, 2007, Monica Orduno was a pedestrian near the intersection of West MacArthur and Martin Luther King Blvd. in Oakland. A car which was making a left turn collided with another vehicle. That car spun out of control and pinned Ms. Orduno against a concrete planter box.
On June 14, 2011 a Fremont man lost his life when his car was involved in a rear end accident on the Dumbarton Bridge. Terrence Abdullah, was traveling westbound on the Dumbarton bridge when his vehicle stalled. After his car stalled, a car driven by Roberto Lopez slammed into the rear of Mr. Abdullah's car. Mr. Abdullah died at the scene.
As an
Here's a safety recommendation for you to keep your car running safely. Every year the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration recalls cars for a variety of reasons. Frequently, the consumer has no way of knowing whether their car has been recalled or not. Now NHTSA has a on-line system which you can enroll in so you can be instantly notified if your vehicle is subject to a voluntary or compulsory recall.
As an
A recent San Jose auto accident points out the importance of kids using proper car seats. On March 16, three people were ejected from a SUV when the vehicle had a flat tire and rolled over on Highway 101 near Blossom Hill Road. One of those ejected was a one year old boy who was in a car seat which had been catapulted to the side of the road. Fortunately, the boy received only minor injuries. However, the accident points out the necessity of not only using car seats, but having them properly installed.
As a personal injury lawyer for the past 27 years, I have helped a lot of clients who have been injured in car accidents. Many of them have come to me after they have spoken with an insurance adjuster. In fact, many of them have come to me because of the way they have been treated by insurance adjusters. Unfortunately, often times people make serious mistakes when dealing directly with adjusters. Often these mistakes hurt their
The next time you are out driving, see how far you can go before you have to make a left turn. Better yet, see if you can avoid left turns altogether. If you drive for UPS, that's just what you would be doing.