North Carolina Car Accident Lawyers Blog

A fatal teen car crash near Lillington earlier this month has our Winston-Salem car accident lawyers wondering if there is ever a time that parents should allow their teens to drive late at night or with other teen passengers accompanying them in the vehicle.

WTVD reports that four teenage classmates between the ages of 15 to 17 were riding in a vehicle on Old Highway 421 when the young driver lost control of the vehicle, flipped the car and caused the vehicle to crash. A 17-year-old passenger is dead and her 16-year-old friend who was driving will be charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle. The two other teens passengers were taken to WakeMed but are expected to survive the accident. Troopers report speeding was a contributing factor in the crash but that the accident was not alcohol-related.

This incident, along with many other teen car accidents in Charlotte and elsewhere in North Carolina are why strong graduated licensing programs are needed.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, teens in North Carolina can apply for a learners license at the age of 15. During the intermediate stage, teens are not permitted to drive alone between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. and are limited to one passenger under the age of 21 riding in the vehicle with them. Nighttime and passenger restrictions could be lifted as early as age 16 years and 6 months under certain conditions.

An article in U.S. News & World Report states that a recent study shows 16-year-olds are less likely to be involved in a fatal crash than 18-year-olds in states with strict GDL laws. In fact, states with the strictest GDL laws showed a 26 percent decrease in fatal crashes involving a 16-year-old, but a 12 percent increase in fatal crashes involving 18-year-olds.

The study looked at over 130,000 fatal teen crashes which occurred between 1986 and 2007. The study found that the crash rate for 16-year-olds was 28.2 per 100,000 compared to 46.2 per 100,000 18-year-olds.

GDL laws vary from state to state but most have a 3-phase learning to drive program in place. The beginner stage allows teens to drive with supervision. The intermediate stage restricts high-risk situations like night driving while unsupervised. The final stage allows for full and unrestricted privileges for young drivers, which in North Carolina, could be obtained before age 18.

The study has caused some speculation as to why 18 year-olds are involved in more fatal crashes. One theory is that with strict GDL programs placing age restrictions on novice drivers, more teens are waiting to get their license. By waiting to apply for a learner's permit at age 18, teens can avoid some of the age-specific restrictions placed on them while learning to drive.

One lesson that can be learned from the study and recent fatal teen crash is that parents and role models should continue to make safe driving behaviors a hot topic of discussion with young drivers, even well into their college years. Gaining driving experience is important to become a safe driver but open lines of communications are just as equally important to keep you and your teen safe on roadways.