Parents have good reasons to worry about the safety of their teenagers when they start driving. Drivers between 16 and 19 years old have a higher risk of being involved in a crash than drivers in any other age group, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC also found that drivers in this age group are almost three times more likely to be involved in a fatal car accident compared to drivers 20 years old and older.
There are several teen driving safety tips you can use to help reduce your son or daughter’s risk of a crash. If your teenager is involved in an accident, schedule a free legal consultation with our South Bend auto accident lawyers today.
1. Set a Good Example
One of the best ways to encourage good behavior in your children is to model appropriate behavior around them.
This is particularly important with driving, because your children will probably mimic a lot of your driving habits. This means that if you wear your seat belt all the time, your child is more likely to do the same. If you speed and engage in other risky behaviors, your teenager is more likely to adopt these dangerous behaviors.
When you make safe maneuvers and your teenager is in the car with you, explain what you are doing and why. This helps to show your child why it is a good idea to follow your example.
2. Set Strong Rules on Driving
Setting the following rules could reduce the chance of your teenager being involved in a crash:
No Passengers
One of the things that attracts teenagers to driving is spending more time with their friends. Unfortunately, having passengers in the car could increase the risk of a crash because your child could become distracted by talking to them. Passengers might also use their cellphones, increasing the risk of your child looking away from the road to glance at a picture or video.
No Distracted Driving
This includes various actions, like talking or texting with a cellphone, playing with the radio or other settings, or reaching down to pick up something on the floor.
These and other forms of distracted driving dramatically increase the risk of your teenager being involved in an accident. In fact, nine percent of drivers between ages 15 and 19 who were involved in fatal crashes were distracted when the accident happened, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Tell your teenager to put down the phone before starting the car. Your son or daughter can make a call before getting into the car or after reaching the destination.
Always Wear Your Seat Belt
The seat belt is the most effective safety device in a car. These devices reduce the risk of death for drivers and front-seat passengers by 45 percent, according to the CDC. They also lower the risk of severe injury by 50 percent.
Never Drive After Drinking
Alcohol impairs judgment and concentration even if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is below the legal limit. In fact, the CDC has found that the risk of a crash is greater for teenagers at any BAC compared to older drivers.
3. Educate Your Child on Common Causes of Crashes
Parents have a tendency to want to shield their children from disturbing information, such as facts about car accidents. However, telling your child the truth can help reinforce your rules about driving and the example you are setting as a safe driver.
Tell your child some of the most common causes of accidents, from drunk driving and distracted driving to speeding and disobeying traffic signs and signals. Explain how these accidents can be prevented by taking some simple precautions, such as never using a cellphone while driving and being a defensive driver.
4. Restrict Nighttime Driving
Driving at night can be more dangerous than driving during the day because of diminished visibility. This can be particularly dangerous for inexperienced teenage drivers.
That is why you should restrict or prohibit nighttime driving until your child has more experience on the road.
Contact a Car Accident Attorney for a Free Consultation
Learning that your child was injured in a car accident is terrifying. There are so many unanswered questions:
- How severe is the injury?
- Is my child’s life in danger?
- Will the injury be permanent?
You might also be asking yourself if someone else was at fault for the crash. That is why you should contact an injury attorney at our law firm for a free consultation. We can review the accident to determine all of your legal options.
If another party was at fault, your child may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses and other damages.
Contact Pfeifer, Morgan & Stesiak right now by calling (574) 444-0741.
