Two of the most at-risk populations on the road are the very young or new driver and the very old or senior driver. They share some common behaviors that have been found to be quite deadly. Let us consider these in this blog.
*New drivers have not had the driving experience necessary to make safe decisions. For instance, they are not experienced in determining how much time is necessary to make a left-hand turn across oncoming traffic and avoid a collision.
In fact, this is one of the most common causes of teen driving accidents. Too, they do not have the background to realize the amount of stopping distance that is necessary to avoid hitting a vehicle or person in front of them. This is also true for senior drivers whose sense of timing tends to fade as they age. Turning into traffic and stopping safely are both challenges that seniors and teen drivers seem to fail with great regularity.
*Teen drivers are easily distracted. They often believe that driving a car requires only a small portion of their attention. The rest can be spent chatting up friends, playing music, texting and talking on the phone.
Now, although seniors may not be distracted in the same way - they are distracted nevertheless. Research shows that they can become confused by the commotion of busy traffic experiences. The noise and lights can lead to a negative reaction in senior drivers that has as much potential for accidents as distractions do for teens.
Keep a close track of your teen and senior family members' driving abilities.
Greg Baumgartner is a wrongful death lawyer and the founder of the Baumgartner law firm, a Texas personal injury law firm dedicated to helping families of people injured or killed in accidents. For a free no obligation consultation about a wrongful death lawsuit call the Baumgartner law firm at 281-587-1111.
