Richmond, Virginia Ranked in Top Ten Deadliest Cities For Teen Auto Crashes
Did you know that car crashes are the number one killer of American Teens? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), car crashes are more common among young drivers than any other age group. In the United States, 1 in 4 crash fatalities involve someone 16 to 24 years old, nearly twice as high as other age groups.
According to a study conducted by Allstate Insurance Company this past December, Richmond, Virginia is ranked among the top ten deadliest cities for teen auto crashes during New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Although the holiday season has passed, perhaps this information will help people in the city of Richmond, Virginia become more aware of this problem.
The other cities besides Richmond that are the deadliest hot spots for fatal teen crashes include:
- Jacksonville, FL
- Columbus, OH
- Birmingham, AL
- Orlando, FL
- Phoenix, AZ
- Las Vegas, NV
- Philadelphia, PA
- Sacramento, CA
- St. Louis, MO
If you are a parent with a teen driver, we encourage you to talk with your teen about the importance of safe driving. Some people have proposed that graduated driver licensing (GDL) laws be enacted that include involve longer periods of supervised driving, restrictions on late-night driving, limits on teen passengers and cell phone bans for drivers. According to this study that was published at PubMed.gov, child passengers in teen nighttime crashes had an increased injury risk and an increased risk of restraint non-use compared with those in teen daytime crashes.
Virginia law requires certain passenger restrictions for teen drivers. If drivers are under age 18, they may carry only one passenger under age 18 during the first year that they hold a driver’s license. After holding a license for one year, teen drivers may carry only three passengers under age 18 until the driver turns 18. Learner’s permit holders may not carry more than one passenger under age 18. Virginia also has laws restricting cell phone use and requiring curfews for teen drivers.