Positive Teen Driver Accident Trends in Connecticut
Connecticut's strict teen passenger restriction laws have been cited by the state Department of Transportation as a factor in a decrease in the number of car accidents involving teen drivers.
February 01, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Connecticut's strict teen passenger restriction laws were passed in 2007, and the state Department of Transportation points to the graduated licensing rules as a factor in a decrease in the number of motor vehicle accidents involving teen drivers. The number of crashes involving drivers who were 16 or 17 decreased 28 percent in the first years of enforcement.
Fatal car crashes involving Connecticut teens have also trended down from a high of 13 in 2007 to nine in 2010, and the latest numbers showed seven fatal auto accidents involving a teen driver through August of 2011. When deadly auto accidents involving teens decrease, fewer families must face their ever-present fear of a late-night visit from the highway patrol.
On the enforcement side of traffic safety, the DMV reports fewer convictions for distracted driving, speeding and intoxicated driving, but citations for teen passenger infractions have recently increased. One important factor to be considered in addition to these numbers is that the number of teens with drivers licenses has decreased despite stable teen population levels.
Connecticut's Teen Passenger Restriction Law
Connecticut has the strictest limits in the country on teen drivers' ability to carry passengers, and drivers under 18:
- Cannot drive with passengers except for a licensed parent or guardian for six months after first obtaining a drivers license (transporting brothers and sisters is permitted after six months)
- Cannot drive with other teens in the car for one year after licensure
- Cannot drive after 11 p.m. or before 5 a.m.
The risks of serious motor vehicle accidents are particularly high for inexperienced drivers, and Connecticut has taken an important step toward allowing young drivers to gain experience while avoiding distractions.
Despite the best precautions, accidents caused by reckless drivers, drunk drivers, defective automobile components and other reasons cause tremendous financial difficulties for injury victims and wrongful death survivors. To help potential clients understand the legal aspects of avoidable tragedies, personal injury attorneys can explain all aspects of car accidents, from insurance policy provisions to the relevance of traffic citations and other evidence of fault.
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