When you hear people talk about teen drivers, and especially about male teen drivers, the conversation often centers around their stereotypical reputation for being dangerous and causing a lot of car accidents. Is this fair? Do they actually deserve their reputation or not?
What do the statistics say about young, male drivers?
There are a few things to consider. The first is that, as with all stereotypes, there’s a danger in applying it to everyone. You can certainly find a cautious, well-educated 16-year-old who just got his license and who works very hard to be safe every time he gets on the road. There are safe drivers in every age ground, regardless of gender or any other factors.
That said, the numbers do paint a telling picture. Sixteen-year-old drivers have crash rates that are about 1.5 times the rates of drivers who are 18 or 19. Even among teens, younger drivers pose greater risks. They just don’t always have enough experience to be safe.
Additionally, young men do get into more serious crashes than young women. If you look at the fatality rates in car accidents, for instance, 16 to 19-year-old men have twice the fatality rates of 16 to 19-year-old women.
Now, there could be many reasons for this. Do young men simply tend to drive more often? Are they more likely to buy cars? Do they engage in more risk-taking behaviors? You can always break down why accidents happen, but the numbers make it clear that they do.
What are your rights?
As an adult driver, you may be worried about getting injured in an accident caused by a teen. That’s a valid concern, and you need to know what rights you have after an accident. An attorney with experience in personal injury law can help you understand the next steps you should take and make sure that your interests are protected.