For parents with teenagers who are of driving age, you know the agony of watching your child drive out of the driveway for the first time without you in the car. Every parent hopes that he or she has properly prepared his or her child to be a safe driver. However, the reality of the situation is that one half of all teens will be in a car accident before they graduate from high school, according to the National Safety Council. Due to inexperience on the roads, and an ever-growing trend of distracted driving, amongst other issues, teens are at a high risk for auto accidents.
If you are the parent of a teen driver, you need to be aware of the dangers of teens out on the road, and work to properly prepare your child for a safer driving experience. Here are some issues to watch for, and ways that you can help your teens think about better driving habits.
Skipping a Seatbelt
Not wearing a seatbelt can be one of the most dangerous driving habits. In fact, according to the National Organization for Youth Safety, 66% of teens who die in auto accidents were not wearing a seatbelt meaning it is possible that these fatalities could have been avoided if this simple safety measure was not overlooked. Educate your children on the importance of buckling up every time they get in a car, regardless of who is driving. You may just save a life.
Distracted Driving & Too Many Passengers
Smart phones are a way of life these days, and it’s hard to avoid the compulsion to text and check in through various apps. Unfortunately, 58% of teens who were involved in an accident were distracted while driving. Over half of teen accidents could be avoided if the driver simply puts away the phone and does not check messages or apps while driving. Make it a rule with your kids to keep the phone out of site while driving a car.
Phones aren’t the only distraction in a car. Teens who have too many passengers may also be too distracted to drive safely. When there are two or more teens in a car driven by a teenage driver, the likelihood of a fatal crash doubles or triples. Some states have laws on the restriction of passengers in a car with a teen driver, but it’s important that parents also work to limit riders in your teen’s car.
Drinking & Driving
Obviously drinking and driving is not a good idea at any point in someone’s life, but 25% of teen car crashes are caused by this avoidable action. Always ensure that your teens have a designated ride when they are around people who may be drinking, and it might be a good idea to help them feel comfortable to call home if they are stranded with a drunk driver.
Driving at Night & Aggressive Driving
Driving at night can be problematic even for the most experienced driver due to limited visibility, however, teens may have even more difficulty judging distances and paying attention when roads are harder to see. Fatal accidents are three times higher for teens at night. As parents, decide on what time is an appropriate driving curfew, and limit night driving to only when a parent is present.
Additionally, speeding and aggressive driving can contribute to many issues on the roads. More than one-third of teens are killed in accidents caused by speeding. Help your kids understand the dangerous of their actions behind the wheel, and how the choice to speed or drive aggressively can harm them or others.
Safety on the roads starts at home. Laws only go so far, but education, rules, and discipline by parents can help teens stay safer behind the wheel.
Set a good example for your teens by signing up for the Drive Kind pledge to help curb aggressive driving on our South Florida streets. Your kids are watching your example, so now is a great time to encourage them to follow your lead and practice safe and kind driving.
References:
Dangerous Things Teens Do In Cars. (n.d.). Retrieved February 06, 2018, from https://safekids.org/teen-drivers-infographic/?utm_campaign=teens-in-cars&utm_source=email-newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=top-tips-February-2-teens-in-cars
Teens’ Biggest Safety Threat is Sitting on the Driveway. (n.d.). Retrieved February 06, 2018, from http://nsc.org/learn/NSC-Initiatives/Pages/teen-driving.aspx
