Study shows older vehicles contribute to accident rates

On Behalf of | Sep 21, 2020 | Motor Vehicle Accidents

It has as long been assumed by New York residents that older drivers and teens are among the most dangerous drivers on the highways. This has largely been attributed to the concept that senior drivers are not as responsive and that most younger drivers lack experience when faced with making driving decisions. However, researchers have found an even bigger factor behind the higher accident rates.

The new report suggests that the primary contributing factor could be automobile safety, particularly concerning the age of the vehicle as opposed to the age of the driver. It is a fact that modern vehicles are manufactured with many more safety features than older models. Furthermore, old cars experience parts malfunctions on a more frequent basis. The reasoning may also be one of economics.

While the study was directed at accidents involving demographic groups as the primary focus, what the researchers learned was that many older model vehicles were also involved in accidents within the demographic groups. In other words, both younger and senior drivers tend to have older, less-safe vehicles. The study also revealed that teens were involved in more crashes while the senior demographic group suffered the most fatalities.

This finding was then attributed to the concept that younger drivers typically begin driving with a “starter” car, which is often an older vehicle that is purchased because of price range or possible reluctance to upgrade because of an associated car payment. Seniors were in the same line of thought, as many either liked their older vehicles or did not want to stress their household budgets with a new car payment.

Attorneys in New York who represent victims of car accidents have suspected this potential factor for the past few decades. Newer vehicles are made with much more attention to safety features for a variety of reasons, including marketing advantages as well as increasing the model safety ratings. However, no safety feature can completely eliminate the risks of sharing the road with potentially reckless drivers. If you’ve been hurt in a car crash, consider filing a personal injury claim against the at-fault party.

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