While many young Florida drivers are responsible and safe drivers, young drivers as a whole are more likely to make specific types of driving mistakes which can and do contribute to Florida pedestrian accidents and car accidents:
1) Speeding. Car accidents involving young Florida drivers often include speeding. In 2005, a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health found that teen drivers tend to drive 1.3 mph than drivers of other age groups. Younger drivers sometimes feel invincible or lack the experience to keep track of their speed. As well, many drivers do not yet have the driving skills to deal with sudden obstacles at high speeds, making them more likely to be in a collision when they do exceed the speed limit.
2) Distracted driving. A 2007 survey by State Farm Insurance found that half of teen drivers admitted to talking on their cell phones while driving. A 2006 Virginia Tech survey found that distracted driving contributed to nearly 80% of traffic accidents. Other studies have concluded that texting while driving is as dangerous as drunk driving.
3) Timid driving. While some young Florida drivers speed, others feel uncertain behind the wheel and drive too slowly or uncertainty. This, too, can lead to a car accident or bicycle accident. Going too slowly on exit ramps or highways or hesitating when changing lanes can slow down traffic and cause dangerous bottlenecks.
4) Risk-taking. Teen drivers will sometimes take risks – such as failing to slow down in bad weather or failing to check blind spots. Such risk-taking leads to Florida pedestrian accidents, car accidents, and other types of accidents. Studies conducted by Cornell and Stanford researchers have found that teen minds seem more predisposed to risk-taking and impulsive action.
5) Brining too many passengers. Your drivers will sometimes fill their cars to excess, something that the NIH has concluded can increase risk-taking and aggressive driving. The NIH has found that both male and female teen drivers are more likely to tailgate and speed when male passengers drive in the front seat. A 2000 Johns Hopkins University study found that 16-year-old drivers faced double the risk of a fatal car accident when driving with passengers. When the same drivers had three or more passengers, their risk of being in a fatal car accident tripled.
6) Drunk driving. Numerous studies have suggested that teens drink. Drinking and driving not only leads to poor motor skills, distraction, and accidents, but it can also cause teens to make poor choices behind the wheel. For example, studies have shown that teens who drink and drive are less likely to wear seat belts. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 74% of 15- to 20-year-olds killed in drunk driving accidents in 2003 were not wearing a seat belt at the time of their accident. When Florida teens do not wear their seat belts, any car accident is more likely to result in Florida brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other serious injuries.