Teens Need More Sleep, Later School Start Times to Prevent Virginia Wrecks

Later school start times may significantly decrease the risk of teenage car accidents in Virginia, according to a new study (reports the Delaware Online news source).  The researchers, who gathered 2008 crash data for Virginia Beach and Chesapeake and accounted for the start times of schools in each city, found that the students with an earlier school start time were more likely to be involved in a car accident than those with later start times.  Here are some of the specific details and findings of the study:

• Schools in Virginia Beach started classes at 7:20 a.m., while schools in Chesapeake started classes at 8:40 a.m.
• When comparing only the car accidents involving teens, researchers found that Virginia Beach teens were involved in 41% more crashes than teenagers in Chesapeake. 
  
• Specifically, Virginia Beach experienced 65.4 wrecks per 1,000 teen drivers, while Chesapeake experienced only 46.2 wrecks involving teen drivers.

Medical experts say that teenagers require more than nine hours of sleep per night.  Since teens tend to go to bed late no matter how early they get up, starting the school day later would help teens get adequate sleep.  One expert explains that teenagers are "biologically programmed" to stay sleepy longer and wake up after adults, and she agrees that later school start times could prevent drowsy driving and decrease Virginia wrecks.

For more information on Virginia car accidents and how to obtain financial compensation for injuries, contact Norfolk accident attorney Lawrence Land online or at 800-800-1911, and he will answer your questions for free.