Posted on Monday, June 6th, 2016 at 5:40 pm
Teen Driver Deaths: 2,163 teens lost their lives in car accidents in the United States during 2013 — 72 of those deaths occurred in California. Fatalities of teen drivers increased in California by 26.4 percent from 2013 to 2014.
100 Deadliest Days Begins
Memorial Day Weekend begins the “100 Deadliest Days” of summer according to AAA. Teen drivers are at a higher risk of being involved in a car accident during the summer compared to any other time of the year. This is partly due to school being out for the summer and teen drivers being on the road more. During the past five years, over 5,000 people have died in car accidents involving teen drivers. Below are tips for keeping your teen driver safe this summer.
Safety Tips for Teen Drivers
What are the most common reasons for accidents involving teen drivers?
One of the best ways to prevent teen driving accidents is to review the most common causes of car crashes with your teen driver.
- Speeding – Speeding is the cause of about one-third of teen driving accidents. Teens are tempted to drive fast to impress their friends and to show off, especially when other teenagers are in the vehicle.
- Distracted Driving – Distracted driving is a problem for adults as well as teens. Teens are distracted by the same things as adults (i.e. cell phones, radio, passengers, etc.).
- Driver Error – Inexperienced teen drivers do not always know how to handle dangerous conditions or emergency situations. This can often result in a teen driver accident.
- Night Driving – During the summer, teens are more likely to drive at night and on weekends when the risk of an accident increases for everyone. Teens do not have the same experience driving at night as adults.
- Drunk Driving – Teens experiment with drunks and alcohol, especially when they have more time on their hands during the summer months.
What can you do to help your teen avoid a car accident this summer?
In addition to discussing the common causes of car crashes involving teen drives and how to avoid those situations, you can help your teen driver avoid a car accident by:
- Set a good example for your teen driver each time you are behind the wheel.
- Allow your teen driver to practice as much as possible with you in the vehicle.
- Expose your teen driver to a variety of driving conditions including night driving, driving in traffic, driving on the interstate, and driving in inclement weather.
- Remind your teen to always wear his or her seat belt every time they drive. Make it a rule to buckle up or lose driving privileges.
- Place a limit on the number of passengers allowed in the vehicle.
- Restrict night driving with curfews.
- Enroll your child in a safe driving course.
- Require your teen to complete an online safe driving course.
The most important thing you can do for your teen driver is to be an active parent. Know where your teen driver is going and when he or she is expected to be home. Ride with your teen driver as often as possible and keep an open line of communication with your teen driver.
Sacramento Motor Vehicle Accident Attorneys
We hope that your teen driver will not need us this summer; however, if you or your teen driver is injured in a car accident, contact the Sacramento car accident lawyers at our personal injury law office for a free consultation. Even if your teen driver is partially at fault for the collision, he or she may still be eligible to receive partial compensation.
Contact Tiemann Law Firm by calling (916) 999-9000 or chat with a representative on our website to schedule your free legal consultation.
