Back to School Driving Safety Tips for Teens
We were all teenagers once and we can all remember how invincible we felt and how exciting it was when either we or one of our close friends was finally able to drive as the school year started back. For many teens, driving is an important rite of passage and a step toward independence and self-sufficiency that will be helpful in adulthood. But unfortunately, a lot can also go wrong when a teenager gets behind the wheel.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens. In 2016 alone, six teens ages 16 to 19 died every day due to motor vehicle crashes and hundreds more were injured. And per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are nearly three times more likely than drivers aged 20 and older to be in a fatal crash.
What Are Driving Safety Tips For Teens?
The good news is that many teen motor vehicle crashes are preventable. As the parent of a teenager who is now allowed to sit in the driver’s seat, you should have ongoing conversation with him or her about staying safe on the road. Spark dialogue about the following:
- Encourage your teen to keep passengers to a minimum and explain to your teen that extra passengers can be distracting and can cause an accident.
- Emphasize how important it is to refrain from texting and using social media while driving. Set a good example by refraining yourself.
- Talk about drinking and driving and discuss why drinking and driving don’t mix even if you don’t think your child would ever experiment with alcohol or drugs – you should not underestimate the power of social pressure for teenagers.
- Point out Florida’s unpredictable weather and make sure you talk about the dangers of losing traction and hydroplaning. Explain that if a rainstorm onsets, it’s best to wait it out, if possible.
- Make sure your teen understands that in the event of an accident, he or she should call 9-1-1 before doing anything else, even calling you.
- Educate your teens on car maintenance and ensure that you talk about the importance of checking tire pressure and fluids as well as paying attention if a tire has low pressure.
Has a Teen Driver That You Love Been Injured?
Unfortunately, all of the safety tips in the world cannot prevent every accident and sometimes that means that we have to watch the young drivers we love suffer from injuries they obtain in a car accident. The silver lining is that under Florida law, you have the right to help your teen driver obtain compensation against a negligent party who is responsible for his or her injuries. We understand how difficult it is when a child is injured in an accident and we can help you hold the responsible parties accountable while you focus on helping your child heal. Contact the experienced Fort Myers personal injury attorneys of The Pendas Law Firm today and we will help you recover the compensation you are entitled to.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Miami, Ocala, Tampa, Bradenton, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Daytona Beach areas.
Resource:
cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/teen_drivers/teendrivers_factsheet.html
