Ask any parent of a child 15.5 to 17 years of age, what stresses them out more than anything, and the answer will often be him or her “driving.” It does not take a control freak to understand the inherent dread parents feel while sitting in the passenger seat while their child gets behind the wheel. Parents also know that while teens are closer to being adults than toddlers, they are still blissfully unaware of all of the inherent dangers that come with being in the driver’s seat.
The good news is that one of the best ways to help your teen become a better driver is to talk to them about the specific dangers that teen drivers face. Use the national “Teen Driver Safety Week” to kick off regular safety discussions with your teen. The education campaign starts the 3rd week of October, but be sure to keep the conversations going every week. Help your teen understand the dangers that he or she may face behind the wheel. The following list can help:
- Lack of experience behind the wheel. Teens are more likely to be involved in a crash in their first year of driving. To combat this statistic, work with your teen to help him, or her obtain at least 30 to 50 supervised hours of driving time behind the wheel before allowing them to drive solo. Use these supervised hours to take your teen on a variety of roadways, during different times of day and weather conditions.
- Other teens and too many passengers. It is a simple fact that teen drivers are more likely to be involved in an accident when they have one or more teen passengers in the car. If your state does not set a limit on passengers for teen drivers, consider placing a rule limiting to zero or one non-adult passenger.
- Alcohol and other drugs. Press upon your teen that there is no amount of alcohol that is safe to consume and then drive. Parents may want to consider having their teen sign a contract about the expectations with regards to drinking and driving and what teens can and should do if they do consume alcohol. It is better to have a plan in place than to pretend it cannot happen.
- Fatigue or drowsiness. Let’s face it; teens are busy. Teens often fall short of the recommended 8 to 10 hours of sleep a night. Parents can help by knowing their teen’s schedule and making sure they have a good night’s rest before handing over the car keys. Since drowsy driving is often worse at night, a time when most teen fatal crashes occur, make it a rule that your teen is off the road by 9 or 10 pm for at least the first six months of licensed driving.
- Speed is often a factor in accidents involving teen drivers. A rule you may want to make for your teen driver is if he or she receives a speed ticket that they lose their license for a set period, need to pay the ticket and the increase in car insurance. Teens need to understand that there are serious consequences for speeding.
- Stress to your teen that when he or she is behind the wheel, there is no “multi-tasking.” That means, no calling, no texting, no eating, and no playing with the radio. Parents can help by making sure they model these rules when they are behind the wheel as well.
- Inconsistent or lack of regular seat belt usage. In a 2011 study, slightly more than half (54%) of teens reported wearing a seat belt when someone else was driving. Remind your teen always to buckle up and make sure that they see you wear a seat belt every time you are in a vehicle.
If your teen driver was injured after being involved in an automobile accident, it is critical that you schedule an appointment to speak with a seasoned Kansas City Personal Injury Attorney. Only an experienced Injury Attorney can make sure that his or her rights are protected. The attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. are skilled advocates who have helped countless accident victims, in both Kansas and Missouri, obtain just compensation. Our compassionate team of attorneys will fight to protect you and hold the wrongdoers accountable. To schedule an initial consultation with one of our Injury Attorneys, contact Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. today at (816) 472-4673.