Teens are often front and center when it comes to various studies surrounding dangerous driving. That is because teens are involved in more accidents tied to property damage, serious injury and fatality. However, teens might not be responsible for a lack of technical driving skills. They may be more likely to engage in risky behavior such as distracted driving or drinking behind the wheel, and this could put them at higher risk of an accident.

A new UCLA study looked at the experiences of 50 female and 50 male novice drivers and found that younger male drivers actually had a higher skill rating behind the wheel than their counterparts in their 20s also preparing for the same test. While younger women were more likely to report feeling less confident operating a car, their technical skills were equal to their male counterparts. The high accident rate of younger drivers and in particular, male drivers were related to inattention to safety considerations rather than lack of ability.

The study also identified that a particular type of teenager was more likely to be accident prone than others. Those teenagers who spent a significant amount of their time in front of a computer or playing video games in their free hours were more likely to be involved in accidents and lack appropriate technical skills. However, those drivers who are active in sports activities had a quicker reaction time to applying brakes and other measures of key skills.

If you have already been involved in an accident with a teen driver, you may be curious about your rights and how to proceed. Teenage drivers may be found responsible for the accidents in California that cause critical property damage or severe personal injury. If you find yourself in this situation you need the support of a lawyer immediately.