When it comes to teen driver accidents, male teen motorists may be more dangerous than their female counterparts, according to a recent study. Here’s why. Contact us for help with your financial recovery if you’ve been hurt in any traffic accident.
Teen driver accidents have been a problem for decades and have led many states to institute graduated driver’s license (GDLs) programs to try to reduce the collisions caused by these younger, inexperienced motorists. Supporting these efforts have been the NHTSA’s 5 to Drive campaign, which is focused on highlighting the primary causes of teen driver accidents in order to improve prevention efforts.
Recently, however, research regarding male versus female teen driving habits has introduced some new important information to this ongoing issue, revealing just when male versus female drivers:
- May be more likely to engage in risky driving behaviors
- May, as a result, significantly increase the risks that teen driver accidents will occur.
Teen Driver Accidents: A Look at Male versus Female Teen Driving Habits
The study we’ve referenced came out of Kansas State University (KSU) and was part of a greater study being conducted by the Kansas Department of Transportation. As part of this study, KSU researchers analyzed traffic accident data for motorists between 16 and 24 years old for 2007 through 2011. Here’s an overview of some of the more significant findings of this research:
- Female teen drivers are generally more likely to comply with traffic laws and wear their seatbelts while being less likely to drive aggressively. However, female teen drivers are also more likely to:
- Drive on restricted licenses
- Be involved in intersection and/or pedestrian accidents
- Be involved in distracted driving-related traffic accidents (which goes can go hand-in-hand with intersection accidents, as intersections are busy sites where even the slightest distraction can lead to a collision, especially among less experienced motorists).
- Male teen drivers are far more likely to exhibit aggressive driving behaviors and to be involved in traffic accidents that occur during evening/nighttime hours. In fact, when it comes to male teen motorists and teen driver accidents, this study seemed to highlight just some of the reasons why male teens (from 16 to 19 years old) are twice as likely as females (of the same age group) to be involved in fatal motor vehicle accidents.
In explaining the importance of these findings, Sunanda Dissanayake, a civil engineering professor at KSU, noted that:
There are often different risk factors for young male and young female drivers because their behavior and attitude are generally different… The study may help explain why one gender is more likely to be involved in a certain type of crash.
Contacting a Denver Car Accident Lawyer at Cederberg Law
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident – or if you have lost a loved one in a motor vehicle accident, contact a Denver car accident lawyer at Cederberg Law to find out more about your best options for financial recovery.
Since 2011, our esteemed legal professionals have been successful at securing results and compensation for people who have been seriously injured in car accidents and other types of traffic accidents, and our attorneys are ready to start helping you today.
To meet with us at no cost or obligation to you, call us at 303-499-0449 or email us using the form at the side of the screen. In addition to offering free initial consults and contingency fee options, our lawyers make hospital visits to ensure that you have access to the legal support you need – whenever you need it.
