Former Aiken Student’s Death Calls Attention To Teen Driving Risks
Getting a driver’s license is an important rite of passage for teens, allowing them greater freedom and less reliance on their parents. However, it is important to emphasize to teens that driving is both a privilege and a responsibility. Due to a lack of experience and poor judgment, teen car accidents are common. A local case involving a former Aiken student’s death calls attention to teen driving risks.
Local Teen Killed In Car Accident
According to an August 18, 2020 news report by the Aiken Standard, a local teen was recently killed in a car accident on Whiskey Road. The 18-year-old girl, a former student at Aiken High School, was a passenger in a vehicle being driven by another teen. Police reports indicate that they were headed southbound at a high rate of speed shortly before 2:30 p.m. near Midway Circle when the driver lost control of the vehicle. It ran off the side of the road and overturned several times, causing the young woman to be ejected from the car. The driver is reported to have suffered serious injuries while the girl, sadly, died at the scene.
Unfortunately, crashes such as this are not uncommon. According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), car accidents are one of the leading causes of death among young people aged 16-19. Factors that put teen drivers at increased risk include:
Lack of driving experience, which makes them less likely to know how to operate a motor vehicle safely
General immaturity, which makes them more likely to make poor driving choices
Peer pressure, which makes them more likely to engage in dangerous driving behaviors, such as speeding, running red lights, and driving under the influence
Increased risk of distractions, such as using cell phones or simply talking to passengers, which make car accidents more likely to happen
Protecting Teens Against Car Accidents
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) warns that nearly 3,500 teenagers are killed in car accidents each year. The fall, when young people go back to school, is one of the most common times for these crashes. Parents play a major role in protecting young people on the road. Steps they can to take to prevent injuries to their teen and to motorists they are likely to encounter include:
Model good driving behavior, refraining from speeding, aggressive driving, or other dangerous actions while behind the wheel
Set firm rules, particularly in terms of not drinking and driving, as well as limiting the number of friends in the vehicle
Limit the amount of time they spend on the road, particularly at night and on weekends, when teen car accidents are most common
Ground them from driving as needed, such as for traffic tickets and fender benders
Reach Out To Our Aiken Car Accident Attorney Today
When any type of car accident happens, you can count on the Surasky Law Firm, LLC to help you get the compensation you need to recover. To request a consultation, contact our Aiken car accident attorney today.
