While many New Mexico teens welcome the summer months as time to relax and take time off from studying, police officers consider this time important for another reason. The 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are known as the 100 deadliest days for traffic crashes. This time is especially dangerous for teen drivers.
During summer breaks, teens are more likely to be on the road, either going from one recreational place to another or running errands for family members. Having recently received one’s driver’s license, teen drivers are less experienced than other drivers on the road and, resultantly, they make the roads more dangerous for everyone. Car accidents involving teen drivers are increasing across the country.
The number of teen-related car accidents has gone up steadily since 2014, from 640 to 736 in 2017. Additionally, a high number of teens received citations for speeding, following too close, driving without paying attention and failing to stop at signals. Unfortunately, teen drivers often do not see the relationship between bad driving habits and car accidents. Their inexperience makes it more likely that they will engage in risky behavior.
While people on the road assume that all other drivers will follow the rules of the road, this is not always the case. Car accidents have the potential to drastically alter the lives of those involved. One may have a number of legal options available to pursue after a crash and an experienced attorney may be able to discuss them with victims.