Auto Accidents are the number one killer among teens in the United States. A young person’s risk of being hurt or killed in an accident increases after the age of 12. The key to almost every accident? A combination of distracted driving and inexperience.
It is a fact: Car crashes end more teen lives every day than cancer, homicide and suicide combined. Many of the injured teens are passengers of other teen drivers. So even if you’re not yet driving, you can educate yourself for safer travels on the road.
Riding with a teen driver can be dangerous. Due to inexperience, most simply don’t know how to handle a situation where it might require a quick decision/reaction in order to avoid an accident. These dangers increase tremendously at night. Most teen drivers still have yet to get the needed practice in driving at night which can lead to serious consequences. The only circumstance more dangerous than teen night driving? Cell phones. Calls and texts and Instagrams and emails. These distractions cut a teen’s attention span nearly in half. Not good for ANYONE, bur especially an inexperienced driver.
It’s important make sure that your teen has experience and practice before heading out onto the big roads. Though they might have their license, it doesn’t mean that they won’t learn more while you are in the vehicle with them. Education and training is paramount to keeping everyone safe.
Also remember, seat-belts save lives. Make this a requirement for your teen driver (and yourself).
Safe driving, and good luck!
