Safe Student Driving in Nevada: What Teens and Parents Need to Know

As students across Nevada return to school, more teens are getting behind the wheel, either driving themselves to school or heading to extracurricular activities. While this newfound independence is exciting, it also comes with serious responsibility. Motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of death for teens across the country, and Nevada is no exception.

At Sam & Ash Injury Law, we’re committed to ensuring Nevada’s roads are safe for everyone, especially young drivers.

The Reality of Teen Driving in Nevada

According to data from the Nevada Department of Public Safety, teen drivers are at higher risk of accidents due to inexperience, distracted driving, and risky behaviors. In fact, between 2016 and 2020, Nevada saw 26,536 crashes involving drivers under 20. Many of these accidents resulted in injuries, with teens accounting for a disproportionate number of fatal crashes on the state’s roads.

Key Teen Driving Statistics in Nevada:

• Fatal Crashes: In 2020, nearly 13% of fatal crashes in Nevada involved drivers under the age of 20.
• Distracted Driving: The Nevada Office of Traffic Safety reports that distracted driving is a leading cause of teen accidents, with texting and using mobile devices being major contributors.
• Seat Belt Use: While seat belt usage has improved in Nevada, many teens still neglect to buckle up. According to the CDC, teens have the lowest seat belt use rate compared to other age groups.
• Speeding: Speeding is another factor in teen crashes, especially on the open highways and long stretches of road in rural Nevada.

The Risks for Teen Drivers

Several risk factors contribute to higher crash rates among teens:

Lack of Experience

Teenagers’ limited driving experience means they’re still learning to react to road conditions, anticipate the actions of other drivers, and make safe decisions in split seconds. This inexperience leads to more errors, which is why, according to the CDC, the fatal crash rate for drivers aged 16 to 19 is three times higher than that for drivers aged 20 and older.

It’s important to practice driving common routes — to school, practice, a primary store, or a mall — to familiarize yourself and your teen with their nuances. Pay close attention to things like school zones, tricky intersections, poorly-lit stretches of the road, blind spots, and neighborhoods where there are many kids on the road playing together.

Distracted Driving

Distractions are a major cause of teen driving accidents. Whether texting, using apps, or even talking to friends in the car, these distractions can be deadly. The NHTSA reports that distracted driving claimed the lives of over 3,500 people in 2021 alone, with teens being one of the most at-risk groups.

Risky Behaviors

Speeding, tailgating, and running red lights are more common among teen drivers, often due to overconfidence or peer pressure. Speeding is involved in approximately 30% of fatal crashes among teen drivers, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Seat Belt Use

Although seat belts save lives, teens are less likely to buckle up. The CDC reports that in fatal crashes involving teens in 2021, 45% of teen passengers were not wearing seat belts at the time of the accident. This alarming statistic underscores the need for parents to emphasize the importance of seat belt use.

Nighttime Driving

Driving at night poses additional risks for teens. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the risk of a fatal crash is nearly three times higher for teens driving between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. than for teens driving during the daytime.

Nevada’s Graduated Driver’s License Program

Nevada has taken steps to mitigate these risks through its Graduated Driver’s License (GDL) program. This program limits certain privileges for new drivers and allows them to gain experience gradually, helping reduce accidents. Here’s how it works:

• Learner’s Permit: Teens must be at least 15½ years old to apply for a learner’s permit. They are required to log at least 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours at night.
  • Study the driver handbook and take the Practice Written Test.
  • Take the Online Written Test when you are 15½ years of age or older.
    After you pass the written test, schedule an appointment (urban offices) and bring in the required documents to get your driver’s permit.
  • Complete the required driver education course, use the Parents Supervised Driving Guide, or download the RoadReady App to track your 50 hours.
  • Make an appointment for a driving skills test. Pass the test and get your driver’s license.
• Intermediate License: After holding a learner’s permit for at least six months and passing a driving test, teens can apply for an intermediate license. Restrictions apply, such as:
  • No driving between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless for work or school-related activities.
  • No passengers under the age of 18, except for immediate family members, for the first six months.
• Full License: Once teens turn 18, or after one year of holding an intermediate license without any violations, they can apply for an unrestricted driver’s license.

This GDL system helps teens gain valuable experience in lower-risk situations before taking on more responsibility behind the wheel.

Tips for Safe Teen Driving in Nevada

Parents play a crucial role in ensuring their teens adopt safe driving habits. Here are a few ways to help your teen stay safe on Nevada’s roads:

• Teach Against Tailgating: Make sure your teen understands the importance of leaving ample space between their car and the one in front of them. There should be one car space between them and the next car to ensure they have room to break in time for any emergencies. Simply leaving enough space between your vehicle and the one in front can dramatically reduce the probability of being in an accident.
• Enforce Seat Belt Use: Make sure your teen and their passengers always wear seat belts. According to the NHTSA, seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury by 45% in the front seat.
• Limit Nighttime Driving: Enforce Nevada’s GDL restrictions and limit your teen’s driving after dark. Encourage them to avoid late-night drives, especially in the early months of their driving career.
• Discourage Distracted Driving: Teach your teen to put their phone away while driving. Consider using apps like LifeSaver or DriveSmart, which block texting and phone calls while the vehicle is in motion.
• Talk About Speeding: Emphasize the dangers of speeding, particularly on Nevada’s highways, where speed limits are higher. Remind your teen to always drive at a safe speed for road and weather conditions.
• Set Clear Rules for Passengers: Limit the number of passengers your teen can have in the car. Peer pressure can lead to risky behaviors, and having multiple passengers increases the likelihood of distractions.
• Sign Up for a Defensive Driving Course: Enrolling your teen in a defensive driving course can teach them essential skills, such as handling dangerous situations on the road and avoiding common mistakes. Many insurance companies also offer discounts for completing these courses.

What to Do If Your Teen Is Involved in an Accident

Even the most cautious drivers can sometimes be involved in accidents. If your teen is in a crash, it’s important to stay calm and follow these steps:

• Ensure Safety: Have your teen check for injuries and call 911 if necessary. If possible, move the vehicle out of traffic to avoid additional collisions.
• Gather Information: Your teen should collect contact and insurance information from the other driver and take photos or videos of the damage and accident scene.
• Avoid Admitting Fault: Your teen should avoid discussing the details of the accident with the other driver. Let the police determine fault after gathering the facts.
• Get a Check-Up: Teens are notorious for acting tough, and often, the injuries caused by an accident are delayed due to adrenaline. So, always take them to get a check-up after the fact or call paramedics at the scene to ensure your teen’s safety.
• Report the Accident: Before contacting your insurance company to report the accident, contact an injury lawyer to help you through the next steps and talk to your insurance company on your behalf.

Safe driving is crucial for teens, and with the right guidance and education, parents can help their young drivers make smart decisions on the road. Understanding Nevada’s driving laws and promoting good habits can make a significant difference in preventing accidents.

At Sam & Ash Injury Law, we understand how stressful accidents can be for families. Our experienced attorneys are here to help guide you through the process and ensure your teen gets the support they need.

If your teen has been injured in a car accident, contact Sam & Ash Injury Law. We’ll fight for your family to get the compensation you deserve — Because You Deserve What’s Right.