A tragic recent car accident killed three young adults and injured five others in Oceanside, according to reports. The adults are all Japanese citizens who were attending Palomar College as part of an international studies program.
The students were all riding in a 2000 Honda Prelude when for unknown reasons it veered off the highway and careened down an embankment and struck a utility pole. The force of the impact caused the vehicle to split apart and left power lines dangling around it, making the rescue even trickier for first responders and trapping all the occupants inside the vehicle. The driver and two other passengers died at the scene, while the other five were taken to a local hospital to be treated for injuries. The student’s ages ranged between 18 and 22. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.
Overcrowding May Be A Young Driver Issue
The National Institute of Health performed a study in which they examined the driving habits of drivers between the ages of 16 and 19. They found that 86 percent of them experienced significant driving distractions such as eating, texting, talking on a cell phone, adjusting the radio, speeding and overcrowding the car.
Teens will frequently overcrowd their car by as many as two or three extra passengers. When this occurs, teens tended to drive more aggressively, break the speed limit by as much as 15 miles per hour and leave shorter following distances between other vehicles. Other studies show that when teens are driving a car that is overcrowded, the risk of a fatal crash is tripled.
The National Safety Council advises there are 37 states that have implemented a Graduated Driver Licensing system. These programs have a primary focus of reducing driving risks for young, inexperienced drivers. Part of the program includes passenger restrictions, which are put into place to restrict the number of passengers a driver may have in the vehicle. Since its implementation, studies have found the number of crashes have been reduced; however, fatal crash data has confirmed compliance is not a given.
Young and inexperienced drivers have a larger percentage of crashes than any other groups. If you or someone you love has been injured due to an inexperienced driver, contact the lawyers at the Ashley Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation and to help you understand who bears the responsibility for your injuries. You may be entitled to compensation.
