Summer Driving Safety Tips For Teens
The Miami Herald recently reported that two high school students have been killed in fiery crash near Miami International Airport. According to a video posted by a news outlet, at least two cars were involved. The car driving east on Northwest 36th Street reportedly began turning left onto Northwest 57th Avenue when it was hit by another car that was traveling west on 36th Street. The second car then hit a light pole and caught on fire, just feet from a gas station. The two teens who tragically perished were just 17 and 18 years old, respectively, and both attended Miami Senior High.
How Serious is the Risk of a Summer Accident For Teens?
Unfortunately there is a very real risk that every parent should be aware of. According to the Centers for Disease Control, motor vehicle accidents are one of the leading causes of death for teenagers in this country. And summer means that for most teenagers there is no school and an abundance of free time. What better way to spend an afternoon as a teenager than driving around with friends and enjoying one of the last summers before heading off to college?
But unfortunately, with increased driving there is also an increased risk of an accident for teens and, therefore, it is important to understand safety tips that can help prevent these kinds of accidents.
What Are Summer Driving Safety Tips For Teens?
- Discourage distracted driving. For most teenagers, a cell phone seems to be permanently glued in his or her hand – even when driving. This and other dangerous behaviors should be discouraged. Ensure that you emphasize that other factors such as having multiple passengers, changing music from a phone playlist or operating the car’s navigation system can be just as dangerous. Parents should discuss all the ways drivers can be distracted with their teens to help keep them safe on the road.
- Talk about drinking and driving. With extra time on their hands, summer can bring more opportunities to experiment with mind-altering substances for teenagers. For this reason you should discuss why drinking and driving don’t mix and 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.
- Educate your teens on car maintenance. While your teen was probably more focused on the color and appearance of his or her vehicle than anything else, you should begin the discussion of maintaining a vehicle the day that your teenager receives one and this discussion should be ongoing. 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 This Summer?
Unfortunately, all of the safety tips in the world cannot prevent every accident and sometimes that means that young drivers we love suffer 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. Even if your teen driver was involved in an accident alone, there are still options under the law. We understand that even though your teen may feel he or she no longer needs your help in many areas, this is one circumstance where your help is needed and we can help you fight for them. As the experienced Miami personal injury attorneys of The Pendas Law Firm, we have helped many injured teens and their families and we have the experience that you need to help you recover the compensation you are entitled to. Contact us today to begin.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Orlando, Tampa, Bradenton, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale and Daytona Beach areas.
Resource:
miamiherald.com/latest-news/article230881134.html
