Car Crashes Leading Cause of Death in Teens
3/7/2008
Getting your driver’s license when you’re sixteen used to be one of the milestones of growing up in America. But laws restricting or modifying the driving privilege for drivers under eighteen are becoming more prevalent. A recent article in the Seattle Post - Intelligencer highlighted some sobering statistics regarding teens and driving.
Car crashes
are the leading cause of death of persons aged 8 to 17. The three biggest factors contributing to these deaths are: (1) Riding without a seatbelt, (2) driving with a new teen driver and (3) driving on high-speed roads.
The most dangerous teen drivers are those under the age of 16 and those driving on roads with a speed limit of over 45 mph.
A special statute in Washington provides for a “graduated” driver’s license. RCW 46.20.075 provides that drivers under eighteen can’t drive with passengers under twenty unless they’re immediate family members. This is designed to cut down on driver distraction. Suppose someone under twenty gets into a car with a driver with a graduated license, knowing that the driver isn’t supposed to be driving with them in the car. The driver becomes distracted. A collision results. Should the passenger be held liable along with the driver for causing the accident?
