You can help stop teen driving deaths this summer
It’s time to raise the car roof or get loud and angry, about the many teen driving deaths that occur during the summer months each year. In addition to being out of school, there are other factors like road trips that lead to increased teen fatalities from motor vehicle accidents during the prime time between Memorial Day and Labor Day. There are things that parents can do to help prevent unnecessary car usage by their teenage children, while at the same time there are safety tips for teens to follow when driving during the summer.
Too Many Teen Driving Fatalities
According to Tire Rack Street Survival, a teen driving educator, the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are the most dangerous for teens. This is mainly due to teens spending more time on the roads because they are out of school, piling in too many other teen passengers, staying out later than during the school year, and driving more fatigued. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that in 2009, an average of eight teens between the ages of 15 and 19 was killed each day in motor vehicle accidents.
Parents Can Help
Parents still have the influence to help their teenage children become safer drivers and less likely to be injured or killed in an accident. Being safe and model drivers for younger children are the first step. For those parents who set driving rules, by employing consequences for rule-breaking, teens are less likely to drink and drive, speed or use a cellphone while driving. Postponing car ownership can also help parents monitor teen car usage and staying calm when riding with a teen can create a supportive driving environment.
Tips for Teen Drivers
Teen drivers should take the safety of their own lives seriously by following rules set by both their parents and state and federal lawmakers. Teens who avoid driving with multiple passengers help to decrease the likelihood of crashes. Driving during daylight hours and without any distractions like talking or texting on cellphones are also effective ways to prevent injury or death in a car accident. Additionally, always using seat belts and choosing not to drink alcohol and drive can help to save teen lives during the summer.
Get Angry, Do Something
Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among teens in the U.S. There were around 3,000 teen driver fatalities and over 350,000 teens injured in car crashes on roads across the nation during 2009. It is time for both parents and teens to raise the car roof on preventing teen fatalities on U.S. roads by getting loud and angry about this issue. It is particularly important for parents and teens to be more aware and cautious about teen driving practices during the summer months when car accidents are more likely to happen.
If you or your teenage child was recently involved in a motor vehicle accident, or you were in an accident where a teenager was at the wheel, contact a local personal injury lawyer for advice about your legal rights and options.
