Parents and teens in Mississippi may not be aware that the state’s laws for young drivers are among the weakest teen driver laws in the nation. According to statistics that have been collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drivers between fifteen and twenty years of age were involved in seventy-six fatal crashes in 2014 and one hundred and three fatal crashes in 2015. These statistics indicate that the number of fatal accidents involving young drivers is rising, which is concerning both for young drivers and their parents.
In the past, all drivers used to receive the same driving privileges when they earned their drivers’ license. In more recent years, states have adopted graduated driver licensing laws, or GDLs, that have helped keep young drivers safe by giving them limited driving privileges at first and then adding privileges as they gain experience, skill, and maturity. Different states have different GDL programs, and there are seven types of rules that have been shown to help young drivers stay safe. The GDL program in Mississippi has one of those seven types of rules, which is a holding period of six months or more before a driver can receive an unrestricted license. Mississippi requires a holding period of twelve months, but there is an exemption for applicants who are seventeen or older when they apply for their driver’s license. Drivers who are seventeen or older when they first apply for a driver’s license can get an unrestricted license right away.
Mississippi allows teens to get learner’s permits at age fifteen, which is earlier than many states. Nighttime driving is also less restricted on weekends than it is in other places, with Mississippi teens being allowed to drive until 11:30 on Friday and Saturday nights when teens in many other states must be off of the road by ten at night every night of the week. Most states restrict the number and type of passengers that can ride with young drivers, but Mississippi does not.
Having laws to protect young drivers is only part of the battle for keeping young drivers and their passengers safe. The level of respect that many young people have for driving laws is low, as evidenced by the number of violations of those laws that have been observed by law enforcement officers. For example, texting and driving is against the law in Mississippi, but officers still see many teens texting and using cell phones while they are driving. While the laws for young drivers in Mississippi could be stronger, it is up to the young drivers and their parents to make sure that safe driving laws and practices are learned and followed so that accident rates for young drivers can decrease.
Barrett Law PLLC: Comprehensive Support for Mississippi Automobile Accident Victims
Automobile accidents can cause severe injuries or death. If you got hurt in a crash or someone that you love died in a car accident, you might be able to recover financially for the damages that are associated with your injury or loss. To learn more about how to pursue a claim for damages, please call the knowledgeable Mississippi Personal Injury Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC today, at 1 (800) 707-9577 to arrange your free, initial consultation.
