Have You Been Injured? We're Ready to Fight for You.

Can a Teen Driving Curfew Stop Car Accidents–and Crime?

Published on Dec 20, 2017 at 12:30 pm in Car Accidents.

The Law Office of Mike Campbell has joined forces with Thomas Law Offices as of September 1st, 2020. Click here for details.

Teenagers who can drive often have reckless driving behaviors. They’re most likely to drink and drive, or drive without wearing a seatbelt. About 6,000 teens die in car accidents each year, and teenagers are more likely to crash when other teenagers are in the car.

In an effort to reduce these numbers, teenagers in most states have a curfew until they can get their senior driver’s license. A study from UT Dallas found that teenage curfews reduce car accidents and teenage crimes.

The states that have restricted night time driving hours for teenagers found that arrests for teenagers in the 16-17 age range fell by 6%.

When teenagers can drive and don’t have a curfew, it’s an invitation to go out for all hours of the night. But they also have reduced driving experience. Without light outside and a car full of distractions, it’s easy for them to get into crashes. Teenagers are less likely to correctly estimate dangerous situations, more likely to speed, and more likely to give other cars less space on the road.

The curfew is meant to take away that chance for teenagers to be on the road and instead be safe in their homes.

What Did the Study Show?

The study looked at the arrest statistics for 16 and 17-year-olds in the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report arrest data from 1995-2011.

  • Arrests of teenagers dropped about 4-6 percent.
  • States with the strictest laws dropped teenage arrests by 5-8 percent.
  • Arrests of 16-17-year-olds for manslaughter and murder dropped 11 percent.
  • Arrests for larceny dropped 5 percent.
  • Arrests for aggravated assault dropped 4 percent.

In addition to taking away the cover of night, another possible reason for the reduction in crime is taking away the influence of peers, so a group of teenagers can’t pressure someone to do something illegal.

The study also found that these laws helped the most when gas prices were lowest. Teenagers are more likely to drive when gas prices are low, and the restrictions kept more teenagers off the road at all hours of the night.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Missouri, you don’t have to go through this difficult time alone. You can stand up for your rights and fight for compensation for your damages, injuries, and lost wages. Call Thomas Law Offices today at (573) 607-1818 for a free consultation.

Free Case Evaluation

At Thomas Law Offices, our personal injury attorneys recognize that our potential clients are likely going through some of the most difficult times of their lives. We don't want you to have to worry about paying out of pocket for legal advice when you're just starting to learn your legal rights and options. That's why we provide free case evaluations. We'll offer our expert advice about your potential case and walk you through how we can help you.

Call us or fill out the form below to tell us about your potential case and a personal injury lawyer will get back to you as quickly as possible.

Meet Our Founder

Tad Thomas - Trial Lawyer

Tad Thomas

Managing Partner

Tad Thomas has dedicated his practice to representing plaintiffs in various types of civil litigation, including personal injury, business litigation, class actions, and multi-district litigation.

After graduating with his law degree in 2000 from Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University, Mr. Thomas immediately opened his own private practice and began representing injury victims.

In 2011, Thomas Law Offices was established in Louisville, Kentucky. Over the past decade, Mr. Thomas has expanded his firm and now has offices in three additional locations: Cincinnati, Ohio, Columbia, Missouri, and Chicago, Illinois. He is also a frequent lecturer on topics like trial skills and ethics and technology.

Legal & Firm News

How To File a Life Care Centers of America Lawsuit

Finding the right nursing home, rehabilitation center, or assisted living facility for your loved one can involve weeks or months of research and visits. When you think you’ve found the right one, it can feel like a weight lifting off your shoulders. Not every nursing home is what it appears to be at first, though. […]

Read More

Nearly 2,000 Children Sexually Abused by Catholic Clergy in Illinois

Illinois Attorney General (AG) Kwame Raoul announced on May 23, 2023, that his office had completed an investigation that has identified at least 1,997 children abused by an estimated 451 male Catholic clergy during a 90-year period across six dioceses in our state. The multi-year investigation first got underway while the current Illinois AG’s predecessor […]

Read More

How Soon Should a Tetanus Shot Be Given After an Injury?

From motor vehicle accidents to slips and falls and other dangerous property scenarios, and defective product situations, these are only a few examples of personal injury incidents that can seriously hurt someone. While it may be intuitive to seek medical attention if you suspect you’ve suffered harm after one of these accidents, would you also […]

Read More
Tad Thomas on The National Crime Victim Bar Association
National Civil Justice Institute - Trustee
Tad Thomas on Lawyer Minds
Tad Thomas on American Association for Justice
Southern Trial Lawyers Association
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Ohio Association for Justice
Kentucky Justice Association
Fellows of the Litigation Counsel of America
Martindale Hubbell Preeminent
2021 Public Justice Member
AAJ Masters of Trial Law: Champion