Is there a cure for inexperienced drivers?

On Behalf of | Aug 10, 2022 | Car Accidents |

Inexperience is one of the major reasons for car accidents. It’s often stated that the highest fatal car accident rates belong to teenage drivers. And the reason for this, in many cases, is that teens simply have much less experience than adults. Even if they’ve passed all of their driving tests, they have not spent years behind the wheel. It does make a big difference. 

To counter high fatalities rates caused by young drivers, some have suggested things like increasing the driving age. Perhaps 16-year-olds just aren’t developed enough to drive, the theory goes. Would making people wait until they were legal adults at 18 make a difference? What about waiting until they were in their 20s? 

Would it change anything? 

While proponents say that accident rates should fall with a higher driving age, the experience issue shows this isn’t true. If it was strictly a matter of age, it would make sense to increase it. But moving the age up to 18 or even 21 would just mean that the inexperienced drivers were older. They would still be inexperienced. What they need is not more development, but more time on the road.

There may be a slight increase in safety, simply because a few more years of brain development could help teens make wise decisions. But it’s not really a way to “solve” this issue entirely. 

Accidents will always be a risk

What this means is that car accidents are going to be a risk. There will always be inexperienced drivers who simply need time to learn. If you get injured in an accident caused by one of these drivers, you need to know how to seek substantial compensation for your medical bills, lost wages and other costs.