There is good reason that car insurance is higher for teenagers than for older drivers: Teens are more likely to be involved in car accidents. Worse, they are more likely to be involved in fatal car accidents. Whether you are a teen or a parent of a teen, consider the behaviors that lead to this significant increase in danger for teen drivers. If you have been involved in an accident, contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation.
The Three Most Common Causes of Car Accidents Involving Teenagers
According to the AA Foundation for Traffic Safety, there have been around 3,500 fatalities involving teen drivers just between Memorial Day and Labor Day – this is known as the 100 Deadliest Days during which the number of teen drivers is on the rise. While this period has passed for 2019 it is important to note that the reasons for an increase in accidents during that time period are still around during the rest of the year.
The data shows that 28% of the fatal accidents involving teens involve speeding, 17% involve drinking and driving, and 9% involve being distracted. It is true that teens are less experienced and this can lead to an increase in accidents. However, note that the only thing that can prevent that is experience while the three leading causes are all preventable.
How to Keep Teen Drivers Safer on the Roads
Most parents are aware that their children are at a higher risk of being involved in accidents during their teen years but too often they assume that there is nothing that can be done about this problem. That is false. As a parent, here are some steps you can take that have been proven to reduce the incidents of teen accidents:
- Communicate with your teen driver. Talk to them about the dangers of speeding, driving while distracted, and driving after drinking. Do not assume that they understand why it is so serious. Do not assume that they understand the potential consequences.
- Model good behavior yourself. Do not do anything you would not want them to do while driving. Do you want them to refrain from texting while driving? Then don’t do it yourself. Do you want them to stay off their phones while driving? Then you should too.
- Create a specific driving agreement that outlines what you expect from them when they are driving.
- Enroll them in a driver education program. This will teach them a number of skills that they may not be as open to learning from you.
If your teen is involved in or injured during a car accident contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 to request a free legal consultation at your earliest convenience.
