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Most teens count down the days until they finally earn their driver’s license. Their parents are not always quite as enthusiastic however. The thought of their nervous and inexperienced teen on the road keeps plenty of parents up at night. Unfortunately, some of that worry may be warranted. New teen drivers are three times more likely to be involved in a serious or fatal car wreck than adults. The following are a few important safe driving tips you and your teen can adopt to make every trip a safe one.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving car accidents claimed 3,450 lives last year. Most of the distracted drivers were teens. Surprisingly, cell phones are not the only culprit distracting young drivers, as passengers can be equally if not more distracting.
Fifteen percent of distracted driving accidents happened because the driver took their eyes off the road to interact with others in the car. Twelve percent of crashes involved the use of smart phones. Taking your eyes of the road or your hands off the wheel for even a few seconds is like driving blind-folded.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that of all teens aged (13-20) who died in car accidents in the year 2012, only 58 percent were restrained. Wearing a seatbelt not only saves your life but also saves the lives of your passengers. In an accident, an unrestrained body is a danger to others. Research shows the biggest indicator of teen seatbelt use is their parents’ seatbelt habits. Parents who model consistent seatbelt use during every car ride are more likely to have kids who do the same.
In 2015, speed was a factor in nearly one-third of fatal accidents involving teens. According to some studies, the tendency to speed increases the more teens drive. Teen drivers should understand how increased speed limits their reaction time and increases the risk of collision. Also important to stress – speed should be reduced in bad weather and around poor road conditions. There are also stiff legal and financial consequences for speeding.
For those times when parents are not around to supervise their teens, several smartphone apps help to encourage safe driving habits. Some apps block all emails and texts while teens are behind the wheel. Others record teen driver habits and reward good behavior. However, parents and other trusted adults are the best teachers when it comes to safe driving. Parents who drive alert, sober, and safe are likely to influence teens to do the same.
Car accidents are a leading cause of injury in the United States. Distracted driving, speeding, alcohol, bad weather, and poor road conditions can lead to serious and fatal crashes. Regardless of what caused your auto accident, you can find justice. The experienced personal injury lawyers at Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. will assess your situation and recommend the best legal course of action to obtain compensation for your injuries.
To schedule your free consultation with an experienced and compassionate Dover car accident lawyer, complete our online contact form or call 302-656-5445 or 800-355-1818 today. Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. has office locations in Wilmington and Georgetown to serve residents throughout the state of Delaware.