While drivers in any age bracket can cause fatal car accidents, research suggests that the highest rate belongs to teenage drivers between 16 and 19. Their fatal crash rate is roughly three times higher than drivers who are at least 20 years old.
This rate is calculated by looking at the number of fatal accidents drivers are involved in per mile driven. It is true that teenagers are a relatively small age bracket, so they are not going to make up the most total fatal accidents overall. But because they are driving less and covering fewer miles, it becomes clear that their accident risks are higher based on the per-mile rate.
This risk may increase over the summer
For other drivers, it is important to be aware that you have to share the road with teenage drivers who may cause serious accidents. Over the summer, when those drivers no longer have to go to high school or college, there may be more of them on the road. This increases the risks for everyone else, along with the teen drivers themselves.
Defensive driving becomes important, as you should keep a close eye on the traffic around you. Pay attention to traffic patterns and the way others around you operate their vehicles, trying to anticipate their mistakes. Just knowing that you face a significant amount of risk from others, even if you do not personally make any driving mistakes, can help keep you safe.
That said, there is always an inherent risk that you could be injured in an accident another driver causes. If you are, then you need to know about all of your rights to financial compensation.