Warm weather in Connecticut often evokes thoughts of vacations and family time. And because of how cold, dark and dreary winter can be, every day in summer can feel like a party, especially for teenagers on school break.
Sadly, the warm weather months have a dark side. They are often tied to deadly car crashes involving teen drivers. Why are teen driving-related summer crashes so prevalent?
A few leading causes of teen car crashes
Distracted driving plays a huge role in teen car crashes. Top distractions for teens are talking to other passengers in the vehicle and interacting with a smartphone. Moreover, many teens learning to drive tend to speed while behind the wheel. Unfortunately, exceeding the speed limit puts even the best driver at higher risk of a car crash that could cause injuries or even fatalities.
Alcohol and marijuana are other reasons behind the staggering summer car crash statistics. Teenagers under the legal drinking age are likely to indulge in alcohol and marijuana due to summer’s party culture.
Marijuana-intoxicated driving is especially rampant because cannabis is legal for medical and recreational use in Connecticut. Connecticut has driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) laws that prohibit anyone from operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs. Yet teen drivers continue to be caught behind the wheel with high levels of THC — the intoxicating ingredient in marijuana — in their blood.
Essentially, more car crashes happen in the summer due to teen drivers who thought they could:
- Make it home after drinking or while under the influence of alcohol and other drugs
- Text and drive
- Make the curve at high speed
Connecticut has restricted teen driving hours because crashes are more likely to happen between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Furthermore, the state tailored the law so teenagers can’t have passengers other than their parents or legal guardian (assuming they’re licensed) in the first six months of learning to drive.
A teen can easily be blamed for a crash they didn’t cause. If your teen was injured in a crash caused by an at-fault driver, it can help to have legal guidance to protect their rights and to seek compensation for expenses and other damages.