Traditionally, teen drivers have been categorized as higher risk drivers and subsequently get slapped with more expensive insurance rates. But according to a new study by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), assumptions as to why teen drivers are more risky may have to be reevaluated.

The commonly held belief among the insurance world is that teen drivers tend to be higher risk due to aggressive driving and "thrill seeking." However, the CHOP found that justifying higher premiums on those assumptions are actually far from the truth.

A press release from the CHOP points out that "environmental conditions, such as poor weather, vehicle malfunction, aggressive driving, or physical impairments such as drowsy driving," usual suspects in serious accidents, "were not primary factors in most [teen] crashes."

The study revealed that the main reasons why teens tend to get into more accidents are because of failing to scan for hazards, driving too fast for road conditions and becoming distracted, the most common of the "critical errors."

Although the study is helping to paint a more accurate picture of teen driving, teens have been consistently known among the auto insurance world to have a crash rate that is four times higher when compared to other driving demographics, which has been a major factor as to why teens pay significantly more for coverage.

State Farm media representative Vicki Harper commented on the findings to Online Auto Insurance News, "To the extent that these findings may ultimately help reduce the number of teen car crashes, it is possible in the long term that costs could go down for consumers and providers of auto insurance. More importantly, however, by working to reduce the incidence of teen car crashes, we would be helping to save young lives and make our roadways safer for everyone."

Authors and co-authors of the study also noted that there needs to be reform in driving education with a greater emphasis on scanning the horizon while driving and being better able to respond to hazards. The lead author of the study, Allison Curry, said in a press release, "Promoting safe driving skills is as important as preventing problem behaviors."

—AJ Register