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What can be done about teen car deaths?

Parents of teenage drivers have a difficult situation on their hands: how to indulge their youngster’s desire for the freedom and exhilaration that driving affords, yet at the same time keep them safe? The dangers of teens behind the wheel was highlighted earlier this month in Chesapeake, when two teen girls – aged 16 and 18 – were killed and a teen boy aged 15 was seriously injured when the car they were traveling in flipped several times on a highway exit ramp. A high rate of speed was blamed for the accident.

Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for young drivers aged 15 to 20. Despite the fact that teen drivers account for a small percentage of all drivers, they are involved in a disproportionate number of serious and fatal traffic accidents. The death and injury rate for teen drivers is such a serious issue that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) added young driver safety as one of its top “most wanted” transportation safety improvements in 2003. According to the NTSB, state progress on enacting recommended improvements intended to reduce highway crashes and save teen lives has been mixed.

Government Recommendations for Teen Safety

The NTSB has three recommendations that they would like to see states like Virginia enact in order to improve the safety of teenage drivers on America’s roads and highways:

Enact graduated driver licensing legislation.

Ideally NTSB would like to see states enact laws providing for a three-stage graduated licensing system for young novice drivers, and restrict young novice drivers with provisional or intermediate licenses – unless accompanied by a supervising adult driver who is at least 21 years old – from carrying more than one passenger under the age of 20 until they receive an unrestricted license or for at least 6 months (whichever is longer).

A 2006 study of State teen driver programs by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore confirmed that strict laws for how and when teenagers can get and keep a license may reduce the number of fatal teen crashes by up to 21%. In fact, the more comprehensive restrictions on teen drivers, the more accident and fatality rates were reduced.

The States have cooperated with the NTSB recommendations, for the most part. Since 1993, 46 States and the District of Columbia have adopted a three-stage graduated licensing system. However, some states have not included some recommendations like a mandatory permit or provisional license holding period. The remaining 4 States have enacted partial graduated licensing systems.

Restrict the number of teen passengers traveling with young novice drivers.

Unless a supervising adult driver at least 21 years of age is in the car, the NTSB would like young, novice drivers with provisional (intermediate) licenses to be barred from carrying more than one passenger under the age of 20 until they receive an unrestricted license or for at least 6 months (whichever is longer). Again, the Johns Hopkins study cited above backed up this recommendation by revealing that States with this restriction saw the most pronounced reduction in teen accidents.

Unfortunately, according to the NTSB 27 States aren’t taking this recommendation seriously, and have not enacted adequate laws restricting teen passengers. In these cases it is up to parents to ensure that their young drivers aren’t risking their lives by traveling with a distracting number of young friends.

Prohibit use of wireless communications devices by young novice drivers.

The findings from a serious accident in Maryland in 2002 prompted the NTSB to recommend that States enact legislation to prohibit holders of learner’s permits and intermediate licenses from using interactive wireless communication devices while driving. In 2007, Virginia became one of the states to make it illegal for drivers younger than 18 to use a cell-phone while driving or to send, receive, or read text messages on a handheld device. However, Virginia’s law is only a secondary offense, so teen drivers cannot be cited for breaking this law – they have to be stopped for another reason first.

Again a majority of the States have failed to enact laws limiting or restricting the use of wireless communication devices by young drivers. The NTSB states that 37 States lack an interactive wireless communication prohibition that applies to both holders of learner’s permits and intermediate licenses.

No parent deserves to see their child suffer from a serious car crash. Regardless of the reasons, if your teen driver has been injured or killed in an automobile accident, please contact Weisberg & Zaleski immediately to find out how we can help you recover from the tragedy and pursue the justice your family deserves.

Weisberg & Zaleski, P.C.
112 College Place
Norfolk, VA 23510

Toll Free: (800) 690-0235
Phone: (757) 622-7740
Fax: (757) 533-9223




Michael S. Weisberg, P.C.
112 College Place
Norfolk, VA 23510
Phone: (757) 622-7740
Fax: (757) 533-9223
Toll Free: (800) 690-0235
Email: info@weislaw.com
www.weislaw.com