Driving is one part of our lives that many of us participate in doing almost every day. When we are at a younger age we look forward to the ability, and privilege of earning our coveted driver’s license so that we have the ability to not only drive, but also the new sense of freedom that goes hand-in-hand with it. In the past, the legal age to hold a driver’s license was much lower than the age that is set now by many states. Yet, are our young teenage drivers today actually safe while on the road?
The Startling Truth
As many studies and reports show drivers between the ages of 16 to 19 are the group of drivers that are statistically more likely to be engaged in an automobile accident of some kind while on the road. Unfortunately, another report shows just what kind of driving you can expect from teenagers within Mississippi. The report stated that out of every 100,000 teenagers between this age range within Mississippi that are a reported 32.3 deaths, which happens to be 186% than the national average of accidents by drivers over the age of 20.
Facts of The Matter
Yet, why is this the case, and in Mississippi nonetheless? A definite answer cannot really be pointed to other than the fact that Mississippi is one of the 12 states that has the most miles driven per capita. However, we also have to look at teenage driving accidents, and issues from another standpoint, which is that of driver education. Many schools within Mississippi currently do not require driver’s education to be taken. Although many parents would like to believe that they could teach their children how to properly drive many usually do not posses proper driving techniques themselves.
Ultimately, this is one issue that not only is currently residing within Mississippi, but also can easily increase every single day. When you are the parent, or loved one of a teenage driver you need to not only help them learn about the rules of the road, but also explain the dangers out there as well. Without properly educating teenagers now, and later we can assume that every time they get behind the wheel and on to the road they are not only putting themselves in danger of being involved in an automobile accident, but also everyone else around them.
At Barrett Law, our experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyers represent injury victims throughout Mississippi. Our law firm has roots that reach back 75 years so contact us today for your free initial consultation at (662) 834-2376 to see how we can help.