Old generations seem to always have something to say about the youngsters coming up behind them. It’s completely normal, after all. Values change, and the behaviors that one generation might deem essential can seem outdated to the next.
It’s why you see a lot of articles titled “Millennials killed” whatever thing baby boomers think as important: marriage, owning a house, the landline – the list goes on for a while. But there is one thing that baby boomers seem to get right about millennials and the young generations, and it has to do with their driving.
A study published by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that people between 19 and 24 years old are the most likely to engage in dangerous driving behavior, such as texting while behind the wheel or driving under the influence.
But what about Missouri? Well, the latest data offered by the Missouri State Highway Patrol seems to back this assumption. Drivers 15-20 years old made up 15.1% of all vehicle crashes in 2011, and 13% of all car accident related deaths, the highest percentages among all age categories.
So, what does the data say about young generations’ driving behavior? Let’s discuss.
Speeding Auto Accident
According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, one of the biggest issues with young drivers is their tendency to speed well over the legal limit, even up to 10 or 15 miles per hour more than it would be allowed. In Missouri, speeding seems to be somewhat of an issue among people between the ages 15 and even up to 30, who’ve caused 56.3% of all car accidents that involve speeding.
Ignoring Traffic Rules
The national report seems to show that the Generation Z-ers are generally rather careless when it comes to traffic laws, particularly in regards to traffic lights. It appears younger drivers prefer to speed up to “make it” even if it means running a red light.
Traffic violations among young drivers in Missouri seem to be a recipe for disaster. Of all car accidents involving young drivers in 2011, 19.1% were caused by not keeping a safe distance from the car behind the driver, while 19.5% were caused because the young driver failed to yield.
Inattentive Driving
A staggering 29.1% of all crashes involving young people in Missouri were caused because the driver was not paying attention. Regarding fatalities, inattention was responsible for roughly 20% of fatalities in car accidents with younger drivers.
And the national data seems to reflect the trend in Missouri as well. Distracted driving is a big problem among Millennial drivers, from texting while driving, or even bending down to look for something on the floor of the car (yes, while driving).
Have you Been in a Car Accident?
The numbers are in, and it seems younger generations are some of the most problematic drivers – but older generations aren’t that far behind, either. If you’ve been in a vehicle collision, call our 24/7 Lawyer Help Line at (314) 361-4242.