At night, when it’s hard to see and be seen, drivers only raise their risk for an accident. This is especially true of teen drivers in New York and across the U.S. Based on 2016 data from NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, the National Safety Council found that 19% of fatal crashes involving a 15- to 17-year-old driver take place between 6pm and 9pm and that 18% of fatal crashes involving 15- to 19-year-olds arise between 9pm and midnight.
Around the ages of 15 and 17, most teens have received their permit or have just barely received their license, and their inexperience puts them at a high risk. Add to that the fatigue that comes over everyone between 6 pm and midnight, and this six-hour period becomes an area of serious concern. Many teens are coming home from school events or from work during that time.
Other research shows that 16- and 17-year-olds are three times more likely to be in a fatal crash at night than during the day. However, this does not mean that teens should wait until they’re more experienced to drive at night. Parents should give their teens plenty of opportunities to learn this important skill while supervising them from the passenger seat. They can gradually lengthen the time spent out as teens improve.
All drivers, regardless of their age or the time of day, have a responsibility to themselves and to other drivers. If they fail in this and cause a motor vehicle crash as a result, their auto insurance company may find itself facing a claim. As for victims, they will need to show that any negligence on their part does not exceed that of the defendant. This is just one reason why having legal representation may be a good idea.