Georgia Injury Law Blog
Teen drivers have traditionally been regarded some of the most inexperienced and dangerous drivers out there. Here’s how Gen Z may be challenging that narrative.
New data shows that Gen Z, or the generation born between 1997 and 2012, may be some of the safest teen drivers in several decades. According to the data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Gen Z teens who received their licenses in 2012 -the first Gen Z teens to receive their licenses – were less likely to be involved in car accidents compared to driver’s license holders in previous generations.
This is in spite of the fact that Gen Z is one of the most technologically adept generations, and has grown up with 24/7 access to smartphones and technology in cars. With all the technology and distractions available in a car, you would think that teen drivers are now the most distracted of all drivers, and, therefore, some of the most dangerous on the roads. The data actually finds that that may not be true at all, at least relative to the accident risks of previous generations of teen drivers. This generation of teenage driver seems to have lower accident rates compared to previous generations of teenage motorists.
The data by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finds that there has been a significant decline in the number of car accidents involving drivers between the ages of 15 and 30 over the last three decades. Since Gen Z received their driving licenses, we have seen approximately 1,800 teen driver car accident deaths per year, compared to 2000 deaths per year for Gen X drivers (born between 1965 and 1980) and millennial drivers (born between 1981 and 1996).
Officials at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are confident that we will continue to see drops in teenage driver accident rates over the next few decades. One of the reasons for the drop in teenage driver -related car accident deaths has been safer vehicles. Modern automobiles now come with forward collision warning systems, lane departure warning systems, adaptive cruise control and a number of other technologies that are designed to reduce the risk of car accidents and prevent serious personal injuries in the event of an auto accident. Greater roof strength for cars has meant a lower risk of personal injuries in rollover accidents which are typically some of the most serious car accidents. Greater access to information through social media also means greater awareness of the dangers of distracted or drunk driving, which makes for more informed and more responsible drivers.
The Atlanta car accident lawyers at Katz Personal Injury Lawyers are dedicated to the representation of persons who have suffered injuries in car accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across the state of Georgia. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a car accident, talk to a lawyer at our firm and discuss your legal options for a claim for damages. You may qualify for compensation that includes medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering and other forms of damages. Talk to a lawyer at our firm and discuss your case.