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Florida Ranked Third Highest in Teen Car Accident Fatalities

Florida is home to more than 820,000 young drivers, and according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, vehicle crashes are the leading cause of teenage deaths in the state. A recent AAA report revealed that Florida ranked third highest in the country for teenage crashes resulting in fatalities.

The study also found that teen drivers are twice as likely to text or use cell phones while behind the wheel of a car. When asked, almost fifty percent of teen drivers have admitted to sending e-mails and text messages while they are driving.

Distractions are one of the biggest contributing factors leading to auto accidents. This coupled with teenagers’ lack of experience on the roads, as well as taking greater risks, are reasons why the state’s teen drivers are ranked among the worst in the country.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles’ motto for young drivers is to drive with CARE (Courtesy, Attention, Responsibility, and Experience). In 2008, the Governor of Florida named the third week of October as “Teen Driver Safety Week.” The state of Florida is hoping to promote safe teen driving and to ultimately reduce the number of accidents caused by young drivers through this campaign.

Educators and parents are being urged to do a better job of monitoring and educating teenage drivers. Helping prepare young drivers and making them aware of the realities on the road could help save their lives or the lives of others. If teens obeyed the speed limits, buckled their seat belts, limited their distractions by not texting or talking on their cell phones, Florida might be a safer place to drive.

If you have been involved in an accident and would like to get advice or speak with an experienced Orlando car accident lawyer, call The Francis Law Group at (888) 521-2721 to find out your rights.