Your teen beginning to drive is both an exciting and nerve-wracking time. Getting a car and license can help free up your schedule as a parent. There is always a learning curve that could make driving for your teen a little more dangerous. Before you let your teenager on the road, consider these facts and tips to ensure they are as safe as possible.
Teen Driving Risk Statistics
In 2015, 235,845 teens between the ages of 16 and 19 were treated for injuries sustained during a motor vehicle accident. On average, six teens from that same age group die every day from an accident. That’s why it’s vital to ensure they are safe. What’s causing the risks?
- Teens are more than likely to speed than other older counterparts.
- Teens are less likely to understand and respond quickly to dangerous situations.
- Male teenagers are more likely to participate in risky driving with 32% caught speeding in 2015.
- Most injuries and deaths by teen drivers occur after 3 pm Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Only 61% of high school drivers confirmed they wore a seatbelt
- Any level of blood alcohol concentration in a teen is a greater risk for a teen driver than an adult.
How to Keep Your Teen Safe on the Road
1. Wear a Seatbelt
As the statistics previously showed most teenagers don’t wear a seatbelt while in a vehicle. Teach your teenager the importance of wearing one during either a driver or passenger in a car.
2. Don’t Text or Call While Driving
Taking your eyes off the road for a split second can improve chances of a fender bender. 11% of teen drivers who were in fatal car accidents were distracted while driving. Encourage your teen to hang up the phone while they are driving.
3. Obey the Speed Limit
Following the dedicated speed limit is safe for drivers of any age. However, as a teen begins to familiarize themselves with being on the roads additional liberties such as speeding should not be taken.
4. Limit Late Night Driving
As we already mentioned, most of the accidents teenagers get into are taking place after 3 pm Friday through Sunday. Driving at night limits visibility and can throw off depth perception. Until your teen has more experience, try limiting the amount they are allowed to drive at night.
5. Restrict the Number of Passengers
The more passengers in the vehicle, the higher the risk for a crash. Having three or more passengers in the car increases the chance of a crash by four times with beginner drivers. Friends can be distracting, and if there is a crash, there are more lives at risk.
6. Drive a Safe Car
Fender benders are typical amongst teens, and therefore many parents buy inexpensive older cars that can get dinged up. The problem with this logic is older cars don’t always have the same advanced safety features as newer models such as stability control or side-curtain airbags.
7. Set Rules
Keep your kids accountable for their actions on the road with rules and outlines you have discussed together. This could be getting the car when they have completed school work to only driving during certain times of the day.
8. Lead By Example
None of the rules mentioned above will do a world of good if you don’t practice safe driving yourself. Always wear a seatbelt and obey traffic and speed laws while your teenager is in the car with you. Additionally, don’t text and talk on the phone while you are driving either. This will demonstrate the importance of good driving habits to your teen.
Insure Your Teen Driver
Every state mandates insurance regulations for drivers. Keep you and your teenager safe with comprehensive auto insurance with superior coverage. Look for things like New Vehicle Replacement and Accident Wavers.
For more information on insuring your teen driver in Nashville, contact Royce Williams Agency today.
