Reducing Aggressive Driving Among Young Males

 Posted on July 08, 2014 in Personal Injury

Car accidents can happen at any time, and for any number of reasons. While even the most seasoned driver can make a mistake and be involved in an accident, it is undeniable that young people are often involved in car accidents at a high higher rate.

Not only do teens and other young people lack driving experience, they also do not possess the life experience to appreciate that accidents can and do happen, and that dangerous driving behavior greatly increases that risk.

A New Study

The results of a study recently found that stricter laws and increased punishment for irresponsible driving behaviors, such as extreme speeding and aggressive driving, are likely to greatly reduce the number of related injuries and deaths that would occur to young male drivers.

Researchers involved in the study looked at the impact that such new laws had in Ontario, Canada in the fall of 2007. According to the new laws, drivers who travel at a rate of speed more than 31 miles per hour over the posted speed limit, and are pulled over or caught racing or participating in other types of dangerous driving behavior, face having their license suspended immediately. They also face having their car impounded for seven days.

In addition, if they are convicted of the offense, they face a potential fine of anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000, a license suspension for as long as two years or six points on their license, and a maximum of six months of jail time. Penalties increase along with the number of convictions.

The Results

The research found that after the new, stricter laws were introduced, there was a decrease of speed-related injuries and death among men in the 16-24 age range by about 58 per month. This number translates to a yearly decline in the number of young men injured or killed each year in speed-related crashes by approximately 700.

The data relating to young males in this age range marks a dramatic difference from the numbers associated with older males, older females, and even young females in the same age group. Researchers are attributing this to the fact that many acts of dangerous driving and extreme speeding are activities in which younger males are much more likely to engage.

The results tend to prove that stricter laws and harsher penalties likely act to discourage dangerous driving and that there is a strong connection between the new laws that went into effect and the changes in driving behavior, even if the cause and effect was not conclusively proven.

Accident Injury Attorney

If you or someone you know was involved in a car accident caused by another's aggressive driving, you need an experienced injury lawyer on your side. The attorneys at Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices have successful experience helping clients who are accident victims. Contact us today to schedule a consultation to discuss your matter. We have offices located in Lombard, Bloomingdale, and Naperville.