Efforts are ongoing to reduce the number of car crashes involving teenagers in Alabama. Vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death of teens in the United States and the situation is no different in Alabama. Teen driving summit makes stop in South Alabama.

That’s why the Alabama Department of Transportation, State Farm, and other stakeholders joined forces on Thursday to educate high school students in South Alabama about safe driving practices.

Students from Daphne, Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, Clarke County, Robertsdale, and other cities got a hands-on lesson which included the use of driving simulators. They also heard first-hand accounts from individuals who lost loved ones to distracted driving or drunk driving.

The session was part of Drive Safe Alabama’s Ur Keys 2 DRV Teen Driver Summit at Orange Beach Event Center. The curriculum was based on State Farm’s accident reports regarding teenage drivers.

State Farm representative Arlene Lester said teen drivers were often distracted since they played with the radio or talked to their friends while behind the wheel.

She said the summit was aimed at helping them to understand what could happen if they don’t pay attention to the road. Speeding and drunk driving was also major talking points during the summit which will make stops across Alabama during the fall.

Research shows that drivers ages 16 to 19 are two times more likely to crash than those 20 to 24 and three times more likely than those 25 to 29. Their inexperience compounds all the usual causes of vehicular accidents.

Teenage drivers, therefore, pose an additional risk to other road users including motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians. If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by a teenager driver, contact our lawyers today. Whether they were texting, fiddling with the radio or driving while under the influence, we can help you get the compensation you need and deserve.