Teens: Dangerous drivers facing real risks
Whenever a new driver is on the roads, it’s important for them to be cautious. They are still learning the rules and how to drive safely, so it’s vital that they go slower and always use good driving techniques.
Simple mistakes can lead to devastating consequences. Teen drivers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are dying at a rate of around six per day in motor vehicle collisions. That’s over 2,300 teens who lost their lives in crashes in 2017 alone.
The facts about teen driving may be surprising
You may be surprised by the fact that teen drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 are three times more likely to be involved in a crash with fatalities. As you may expect, it’s driver inexperience that is a leading cause of these collisions, and the majority of fatal collisions are likely to happen at night when visibility is poor.
What are the eight dangers for teen drivers?
The CDC reports that there are eight primary dangers for teen drivers including:
- Not using seat belts
- Driver inexperience
- Reckless driving
- Impaired driving
- Drowsy driving
- Distracted driving
- Driving at night
- Driving with other teenage passengers
Parents are the first line of defense in helping prevent crashes involving teens. If your teen is going to be out on the roads, consider sitting down and talking about driving safely. Build a parent-teen driving agreement in place with your teen so that they know you’re serious about safety on the roads.
If they are involved in a crash that is not their fault, then they can pursue a claim against the at-fault driver. The goal is to prevent as many crashes as possible.