Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of death for teens in the United States. Teens are new to the road, less comfortable behind the wheel, and more likely to be distracted by friends or electronics in the vehicle. In fact, drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 are more likely to be in a motor vehicle crash than any other age group according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Keeping teens safe while driving is important, teaching them safe driving tips can help reduce the number of crashes.
6 Teen Safe Driving Tips
1. Put Your Phone Down
Studies have shown that using a cell phone while driving, even hands-free calling, is equally as dangerous as drunk driving.
2. Don’t Text While Driving:
Even more dangerous is texting while driving. Texting causes a driver to lose focus on the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, or the time it takes to drive the length of a football field.
3. Obey Speed Limits:
Speeding is often tempting for teen drivers, but it is a major factor in fatal accidents involving teen drivers.
4. Drive Alone
Having a single teen passenger in the car can double the risk of having an accident for teen drivers. Additional passengers increase the risk even more.
5. Use a Seat Belt:
It is illegal to drive without a seat belt, but still, a study of fatal accidents involving teen drivers found that 60% were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.
6. Limit Nighttime Driving:
Night driving can be tricky for even an experienced driver, but for teens, driving at night greatly increases the risk of being involved in a fatal accident.
It takes time to become comfortable behind the wheel. While all drivers should observe the above safety rules, it is even more important for teens in order to keep not only themselves but others safe on the road. Learn more about Habush’s Distracted Driving Campaign.
Make A Pledge To Stay Safe On The Roads
Teens let’s always make sure that we are staying safe on the roads. Remember to always wear your seatbelt, keep your phone out of reach as well as follow the rest of the tips above. By making these choices, we can ensure that we and our fellow drivers on the road can stay safe and arrive safely at their destinations without incidents. Let’s commit to safe driving practices and set a positive example for others!
If you or your loved one has been a victim of distracted driving, contact one of our attorneys at Habush Habush & Rottier for help today.