Fatal Accidents Involving Teens Up 19% in Virginia in 2015

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) just released startling statistics on deadly accidents involving teens. In 2015, 25 teenagers have died in automobile accidents. This represents a 19% increase over last year and there are still a little more than two months left in 2015. The predominant causes of these fatal accidents were speeding and running off the road. Every day this week, the Virginia DMV has been trying to bring attention to teen driver safety because it is National Teen Driver Safety Week. According to the Virginia DMV, teen drivers need to slow down, always use their seatbelt, and concentrate on the road. The Virginia DMV also reports that “nearly two-thirds of teen drivers killed weren’t wearing their seatbelts.” One way to help assure that teenage drivers use their seatbelt every time they get behind the wheel is for parents to set a good example by wearing their seatbelt as well. Eighty percent of the fatal teen accidents involved speeding. Sixty percent of them involved running off the road. Fifty-six percent of these accidents involved both speeding and running off the road. It certainly makes sense that more than half of these fatal accidents involved both speeding and running off the road because if a teenager is driving too fast they are very likely to lose control of their vehicle and go off the roadway.

The Virginia DMV has compiled a list of tips for parents of teenage drivers to discuss with their son or daughter to help prevent these fatal accidents:

• Always buckle up. Seat belt users are 45 percent less likely to be fatally injured in a crash.
• Put your phone away. Same goes for food, makeup, and other distractions.
• Slow down and follow the rules of the road. Never exceed the posted speed limit or drive faster than road and weather conditions allow.
• Never drive after drinking alcohol or taking drugs. If convicted of a first-offense DUI in Virginia, your license could be revoked for up to a year.
• Don’t drive if you haven’t gotten enough sleep. Drowsy driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving.

If you or a family member have been injured or killed in a car accident and would like to consult an experienced Virginia personal injury attorney for free, contact our office at (410) 995-1515 to schedule an appointment at one of our office locations in Tysons Corner or throughout Virginia, or visit us online.