When senior Emma Navorro started driving to school and work last year, she realized how different it was from driving with her parents. 

“When you start driving with your parents you don’t see a lot of things that are happening, but when you start driving it’s completely different,” Navorro said.

Navorro’s experiences have helped her become more aware of what’s going on around her and what to avoid from other high school drivers.

High school drivers are a part of the 11% of fatal crashes.

From the National Household Travel Survey, the fatal crash rate per mile driven for 16-19 year-olds is nearly three times the rate for drivers ages 20 and over. Risk is the highest at ages 16 and 17.

“High school drivers are (dumb) and do things they aren’t supposed to be doing on the roads,” Navorro said.

As more new drivers come to school, you are more likely to get into an accident. Even if it wasn’t their fault.

Navorro said that she’s almost been in several crashes since she started driving in early June 2023.

“The first time I drove my car on my own, I turned left for the first time and someone turned into the right lane and their bumper flew off,” Navorro said

Teenage car crashes were most common in the late afternoon, specifically between the hours of 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Junior Tyrena Nichols just started driving to school this year. 

“It gets pretty hectic when leaving school. So many cars are around and people want to get home quickly and safely,” Nichols said.