Drivers 19 to 24 top the list of worst behaved drivers in the US
A common stereotype holds that teens and young adults are bad drivers. As it turns out, this stereotype is based in fact: according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, millennials (drivers age 19 to 24) are the worst behaved drivers in the US. Not only do they frequently engage in risky behavior behind the wheel; some of them actually believe this behavior is acceptable.
Just over 88 percent of millennial drivers reported engaging in one of the following risky behaviors in the past 30 days:
Texting: Compared to other drivers, millennials were 1.6 times as likely to have read a text message while driving in the past 30 days and almost twice as likely to have typed and sent a text or email while driving.
Speeding: Millennials were 1.4 times as likely as other drivers to have driven 10 mph over the speed limit in a residential area in the past 30 days. Even more worrisome, many of these drivers said they felt it was acceptable to speed. About 12 percent of them said they thought it was okay to exceed the speed limit by 10 mph in a school zone. Only 5 percent of all drivers felt the same way.
Running Red Lights: Almost 50 percent of millennials said they had driven through a red light, despite having had time to stop safely, and 14 percent of them said they thought it was acceptable to do so. Among drivers of all ages, these figures drop to 36 percent and 6 percent respectively.
Risky Driving Puts Others at Risk—Learn What to Do If You Are Hurt
Speeding, texting, and running red lights are all behaviors that can increase the risk of car accidents. Unfortunately, the cavalier attitude that millennials have towards these behaviors can and does cause car accidents.
The good news is, if you have been injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s mistakes, you are entitled to compensation. This is true whether the other driver was breaking a traffic law, distracted by a text message, or engaging in any other type of risky driving behavior.
However, in order to get the full and fair compensation you deserve, you do have to take some initiative, rather than just leaving everything up to the insurance company. Here’s what you’ll need to do after an accident:
- Exchange information with all involved parties
- Take photos of the scene of the accident (ideally before any of the vehicles have been moved
- Visit the doctor for diagnosis and treatment of your injuries and documentation of your pain and suffering
- Contact an experienced car accident attorney to help you quantify your damages and handle the process of seeking compensation.
As the #1 car accident firm in southern California, The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker makes an excellent choice of car accident attorney for your needs. We will fight to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Call 800-333-0000 for a free consultation and no-risk representation.
