After a devastating accident on Missouri Highway TT near St. Clair on a recent Saturday morning, concerns about the driving patterns of teenagers were underscored. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says statistics document that drivers in the 16 to 19-year-old age category are involved in more accidents than all other drivers. The reasons vary, but more than 35 of every 100 fatalities in car accidents involving teenage drivers were linked to excessive speed.

Miraculously, all four teenagers in the Saturday accident survived, but it should serve to underscore the importance of obeying road rules. It was reported that all four occupants of the car failed to wear safety belts. The car rolled over after having left the road and crashed into a utility pole. A witness apparently reported seeing the vehicle traveling at a speed that was entirely too fast for the circumstances.

The 17-year-old driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle when he attempted to pass another car on a hilltop. Not only did he put the lives of his passengers on the line, but also endangered other road users. Moreover, a utility pole was knocked down. This accident is a typical example of several reasons for teenage accidents. It includes failure to recognize hazards, taking high risks while having a low perception of the potential consequences, speeding and not using safety restraints.

Young drivers in Missouri are sometimes only aware of a moment’s exhilaration and fail to consider the consequences of serious car accidents. A moment’s distraction may result in a driver having to face criminal and civil claims. He or she may face civil claims for financial responsibility for the losses sustained by passengers and other road users. In the event of a negligent driver’s death, his or her estate may be sued for the damages.

Source: emissourian.com, “Be Safe on the Roads“, March 11, 2015