The stats regarding teenage car accidents are mind-blowingly scary. In 2019, the CDC reported 2,400 teenagers between 13 and 19 years old were killed in car accidents. The number of injuries caused is even higher. Although driving a car is one of the most significant sources of independence for teens, as parents, we must show them how high the risk of accidents is when the driver behind the wheel is a teen. The following are the top seven causes of teenage car accidents.
1. Inexperience
It is easier for a teenager to get carried away by the excitement of being behind the wheel, without realizing the number of hours required to gain enough experience. Garnering a set number of hours in driving school and passing the test is not enough to prevent accidents. Teenagers need more time driving with an adult who can monitor their driving and ensure they eliminate the mistakes that might cause an accident. As a parent, you must prepare your teen for worst-case scenarios.
Primarily, you must tell your kid they cannot flee the scene of an accident even if they are at fault as they will be accused of a hit and run, which is much more severe. These days, you will find personal injury lawyers with highly specialized niches. If your teen was involved in an accident resulting from inexperience or negligence, a car accident lawyer from Finkelstein & Partners Firm can help who knows how to handle delicate matters involving teens.
2. Driving with other teens
A teenager’s risk of getting in a car accident when other teens are in the car is high. The factors leading up to an accident are various, the most common being a loud conversation that can distract them. Loud music can also cause distraction and gossip or shenanigans that can take the teen’s eyes from the road. If your kid frequently has passengers on board, remind your kid of the importance of staying focused when driving, no matter what the other people in the car are doing or saying.
3. Texting or calling while driving
Mobile phones fall under the distraction umbrella, but these devices are loaded with entertainment and need a point on their own. The risk of an accident is far more significant if the teenager is texting while driving. Making phone calls is another sure way of being involved in an accident. Although there is Bluetooth to enjoy hands-free phone calls, being on the phone when their mind should be on the road can still lead to an accident.
As a parent, you can speak to your kid about the increased dangers of an accident when distracted by their phones. They don’t even have to text or touch the phone. Sometimes, just reading a text message is enough to pull the driver away from the kid crossing the road or the car that has suddenly braked. The easiest way to avoid distraction while driving is to have them put their phone on focus mode. Encourage them to take a break from their phone when they are driving and show them how tragically one insignificant text can change their life.
4. Forgetting to put the seatbelt on
For most of us, putting on the seatbelt in the car is as natural as breathing. However, this might not be the case for teenagers or their friends. Although they might see it as an act of rebellion, it is essential to show your teen just how serious injuries can be when they do not put their seatbelt on. Teens have a long way to go before they understand the long-term consequences of their actions. Their brains have more developing to do beyond the legal driving age. Accordingly, we must make them see how bad things can be if they do not use a seat belt.
5. Driving under the influence
Alcohol, weed, and recreational drugs can distract the focus of an expert driver, and it can cause tragic consequences for new drivers. There is never an excuse to drive under the influence. As a parent, you can give your kids options if they ever find themselves in such a situation by offering the possibility of coming to get them or sending them an uber.
6. Speeding
Teens are far more likely than adults to speed when they are driving. They are also more likely to leave a shorter gap from the car in front of them. Make your kid aware of speed limits and explain why it is easier to crash when speeding.
7. Night-time driving
Lastly, nighttime driving leads to more accidents than driving during the day. This is true for all drivers but particularly so for teens. Although you cannot prevent your kid from driving after the sun goes down, you can ensure your kid is getting enough sleep and is aware of the higher risks when it is dark outside.
Wrapping Up
Passing the driving test feels like a right of passage for most teens, but it does not mean they are expert drivers. Teens need practice with the guidance of an adult to become sophisticated drivers that can avoid accidents. Rather than instilling fear into the joy of driving, ensure your kid realizes the responsibility of being on the road and ensuring they are cautious drivers for themselves and those around them.