These 5 simple rules can help your teen avoid an accident.
When your teenager gets his or her driver’s license, it is one of the scariest — and most exciting — times as a parent. Your child will be thrilled to exercise their independence, while you may be terrified that he or she will get into a serious accident.
Parents have good cause to be worried about the safety of their teens. According to a recent study from Allstate Insurance, approximately 5,000 teenagers are killed each year in car accidents — making these crashes the number one killer of American teens. These numbers are not surprising for anyone familiar with teens; at this age, teenagers often believe that nothing bad can happen to them. Their brains are not fully developed at this age, and may choose to do things to impress their friends instead of making good driving choices. For this reason, they’re often more likely to engage in unsafe driving behavior, such as speeding and distracted driving. With the popularity of cell phones and apps that may encourage teens to engage in unsafe driving behaviors, the risk of accidents is only increasing. In 2014 alone, 267 people were killed by teens who were distracted while driving.
These numbers are frightening, and they are a good reason for parents to take the time to talk to their teens about safe driving habits. Here are five tips you can give your teens to help them be better and safer drivers — and to decrease the chances that they’ll be in a serious accident.
No Phones While Driving
This can be a particularly challenging mandate for teens and adults alike, as we have all become addicted to our phones. But distracted driving — including texting while driving — is a rising cause of car accidents in the United States. The only way to prevent these accidents is by not engaging in these behaviors. That means absolutely no cell phone use while driving.
This is a particularly important rule to emphasize given the popularity of apps like Snapchat, where many teens film themselves driving around (and may even challenge themselves to reach a certain speed while driving). If your child needs to take a call or send a text, tell them to pull over. A text can wait — and social media never trumps safe driving.
No Extra Passengers
Teens often do not have ready access to vehicles, making it tempting to pick up ALL of their friends for a night on the town. But having too many bodies in a vehicle simply isn’t safe — and the added distraction can lead to accidents.
This rule is a simple one: the only people allowed in the car are those you have approved, and there should never be more people in the car than there are seat belts. If your teen follows this rule, he will decrease the chances of being in an accident — and seriously injuring or even killing his friends in the process.
No Speeding
Driving is fun when you’re young, and driving fast can be even more of a thrill. But the faster you’re going, the harder it is to avoid road hazards and accidents. Going too fast around a curve or speeding down a highway can lead to an accident. Encourage your child to stick to the speed limit at all times, particularly if weather conditions are less than ideal.
There are some apps and car programs that will track your child’s speed and alert you if he or she is going over the speed limit or beyond certain boundaries. Implementing these may be a smart idea to make sure that your child knows that you are monitoring their driving — and to incentivize them to make smart driving choices.
No Alcohol or Drugs
Many teens experiment with alcohol or drugs during high school and college. While each parent’s tolerance for this behavior may differ, there can be no argument that driving after drinking or using drugs is a recipe for disaster. Impaired driving carries a high risk of accidents and fatalities, so it should be avoided at all costs.
In addition to the risk of an accident, teens who drink — even a little — may lose their licenses if caught by the police. Most states have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to underage drinking and driving. Explain these laws to your child and make sure that they know that the consequences for drinking or using drugs and driving are too severe to risk.
Always Wear A Seatbelt
Seatbelts save lives — period. Whenever your teen is in a car as either a driver or a passenger, their seatbelt should be on — every single time. Set a good example by wearing one yourself — and encourage your child to make sure his or her passengers click their seat belts too.
If your teen has been involved in an accident, contact the Law Offices of Larry H. Parker today at 800-333-0000 or info@larryhparker.com. We’ll help you though the process and make sure that your legal rights are protected. We never charge a fee unless we recover money for you, and initial consultations are always free.
