North Dakota Teen Drivers Some of the Worst in the U.S.

It goes without saying that teenage drivers are at greater risk of being involved in an accident than other age groups. One of the major reasons for this is lack of experience, combined with over-confidence behind the wheel. Since teenagers do not have as much experience in reacting to driving scenarios, they are at their most vulnerable when they are feeling invincible, which can be a deadly combination.

Preventing teen driving accidents is a concern nationwide, but it is of special interest in North Dakota. North Dakota teens have the highest rates of moving violations and car accidents in the United States. Educators and police around the state believe the primary reason for this is the weather, lack of driving experience and lack of preparation anticipating and preventing accidents.

According to North Dakota police, low fines for traffic violations, which are common throughout North Dakota, do not work as a deterrent to help teens avoid getting in trouble on the roadways. That being said, North Dakota also has the most violations logged in the country for teens who are texting and driving.

Sadly, the driver fatality rate for North Dakota teens is the second highest in the country, with 1.5 deaths for every 100,000 people in the population, according to a May, 2016 research study conducted by carinsurance.com. The nationwide average is 0.5 per 100,000. The most dangerous states for drivers also include Montana, South Dakota and Louisiana.

The same study ranked North Dakota as second in the U.S. for having the least-effective laws for teen driving. These laws restrict driving permits for teens aged 14, requiring parental supervision while on the road. Driving at such a young age significantly increases the risk factors associated with teen motor vehicle accidents. Although there has been a slight decrease in the number of teen drivers involved in accidents between 2009 and 2014, teenagers made up 17.7% of all North Dakota motor vehicle crashes in 2015.

Keeping our children and roadways safe is of utmost importance. For more information, or to set up a free consultation after an accident, contact the compassionate accident attorneys at Larson Law Contact us online or call 701-484-4878.