Teenagers consider driving as a “right of passage” from being a child to a young adult. Unfortunately, accidents involving teenagers are more common than you think. In 2017 alone, 2,364 teenagers in America between 16 and 19 years of age were killed in car crashes, while approximately 3,000 were treated in emergency rooms for injuries caused by car accidents. This averages to about six teens between the ages of 16-19 dying every day as a result of a motor vehicle crash in addition to hundreds of daily injuries.
People ages 15-19 accounted for 6.5 percent of the United States population in 2017. However, this same age group caused $13.1 billion or nearly 8 percent of the total cost of motor vehicle injuries in the same year due to fatal and non-fatal accidents.
As a parent, it is your responsibility to set an example and teach your teenager about proper roadway etiquette to prevent them from getting involved in car accidents. Here are some safety tips that both teenagers and their parents can follow:
Take a defensive driving course
Although learning from your parents may seem enough, it is still different when a professional driving teacher teaches you. Defensive driving can help you develop your skills as a driver in general; it can also help develop your reaction time if you are faced with hazards, sudden collisions, and bad weather.
Always wear a seatbelt
Los Angeles car accident lawyers know this all too well. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, 54,000 collisions occurred in 2019.Majority of these victims tend to be involved in preventable injury accidents.
This may seem like a minor task, but it can save your life. Having a seatbelt on during a sudden collision can aid in preventing serious injuries. The sudden jolt from the impact can cause your body to hit your dashboard or, worse, crash outside of the window. Having a seatbelt on prevents your body from moving unpredictably during a collision.
Never Text and Drive
California car accident lawyers will highly discourage you to do this. In today’s digital age, people tend to use their mobile devices almost all the time, especially teenagers. Although these devices can be quite helpful in some cases, they can serve as a distraction, especially when you are driving. If you are familiar with the area and do not necessarily need to use Waze or google maps for navigation, keep your phone away and focus on the road.
Avoid answering calls and replying to text messages while you are driving. Keeping your eyes away from the road for just a few seconds may seem like a small thing, but it can cost you your life.
Do not drink and drive
Majority of teenagers enjoy going to parties. Frequently, they would bring their parent’s car with them to get to the location. Unfortunately, although it is illegal for people under 21 to drink alcohol (depending on the state), some of these parties still serve alcohol to their guests.
Intoxicated driving is probably one of the most reckless and dangerous things any driver can do. It is very irresponsible as it poses a threat to the drunk driver’s life and the lives of the other innocent people on the roadway. Teach your kids the dangers of drunk driving and how they should not hesitate to contact you if they are incapable of driving due to intoxication. But if you ever find yourself involved in a car accident, do not hesitate to contact an experienced California car accident lawyer. They will vigorously fight for your rights and assist you with your claim as you recover from your injuries.
