Teen and Young Adult Drivers Have Propensity for Car Accidents, Which Can Prove Fatal in Ozark and all of Missouri

Car accidents involving teenaged and twenty-something drivers happen every day. Sadly, they are often fatal. In Ozark and surrounding Missouri these accidents often involve very high speeds. In fact, speeding is one of the leading causes of car accidents, following inattention, driver fatigue and drunk driving.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), traffic accidents are the leading cause of death in people aged 3 to 33. And the 16-20 year old age group accounts for the most injury, property damage and fatal crashes per driver.

Why are young drivers involved in such a high percentage of traffic accidents?

Difficulty judging speed
Tunnel vision
Unaware of driving ability/limitations
Perceived indestructibility

Mostly it boils down to inexperience and a false sense of security. With driving experience comes more improved reactions to unexpected events. After we have a few near misses or spin out on snow or ice or even have a car accident, we learn ways to avoid similar events. After enough practice we even start driving with these actions and reactions in an automatic manner. In other words we incorporate these abilities into our driving and are barely aware of what we are doing. We trust our driving experience.