Teen Driver Safety

Summer is upon us, which means that the roads should now be clogged with teens who no longer need to be in school. Unfortunately, teenage drivers are some of the worst on the road.

The proof is in the statistics. According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 6 teens die every single day in motor vehicle accidents. Teens also cause a disproportionate amount of financial damage. None of these numbers should be surprising. Teens lack the experience of other drivers and are more prone to engage in risky behaviors.

If you have a teen who has put away the books for a couple of months, then you will want to review some driver safety tips. You can save your child’s life and the lives of innocent people out on the road.

Limit Who Can Ride in the Car with Your Teen

It’s no secret that many teens like to show off for their friends. However, this behavior can lead to collisions and injuries. Teens might speed, joyride, illegally pass, or engage in other risky behavior.

For this reason, you might consider not letting your teen drive with friends. True, this might anger your teen, but it is probably the single greatest thing you can do to reduce the risk of accidents.

Reduce Distracted Driving

Even adults struggle with distracted driving, especially cell phone use. You should model safe driving for your teen by putting your phone away and not checking it until you stop driving.

One option is to not let your child have their phone while driving, but this is usually impractical. After all, you want your child to contact you in the event of an emergency or if plans change, so they need a phone.

Instead, you can install an app on their phone that renders it inoperable while the car is moving. An app gives you the best of both worlds—your children have a phone if they need it but can’t use it while driving. One option is TextLimit app, that works on both Android and iPhones.

Have a Discussion about Drinking and Driving

Teens drink alcohol. Yes, it is illegal, but parents can’t afford to be naïve.  Your child might be going to parties late at night or on the weekend. Instead of pretending this isn’t a possibility, you should have a frank discussion with your child about the dangers of drunk driving.

Emphasize the following:

• Even a little drinking is too much to safely drive. A driver’s reflexes are impaired even if they are not “falling down” drunk. One drink is enough.

• Eating food while drinking doesn’t guarantee a driver will not become impaired.

• Don’t get into a vehicle with someone who has been drinking. Have your teen call you.

• Marijuana and other drugs can also impair a driver. There is no “safe” amount they can have and drive properly.

Give your child options for what to do if they end up drinking and need to get home. Can they call you? Call another adult?

Car Accident Attorneys You Can Trust

If you have been injured by a teen driver, help is available. At Bundza & Rodriguez, our Daytona Beach car accident lawyers can work to get you compensation for your injuries. All you need is to call 386-252-5170.

Resource:

cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/teen_drivers/teendrivers_factsheet.html