Rules for Your Teen Driver to Follow

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), car crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens. Additionally, in 2017:

• 2,364 teens in the United States aged 16-19 were killed in motor vehicle crashes.
• About 300,000 were treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor vehicle crashes.
• Six teens aged 16-19 died every day due to motor vehicle crashes, and hundreds more were injured. 
• Young people aged 15-19 represented 6.5% of the U.S. population, yet motor vehicle injuries, both fatal and nonfatal, among young people in this age group, represented about $13.1 billion, or almost 8%, of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries.
• The motor vehicle death rate for male drivers aged 16-19 was over two times higher than the death rate for female drivers of the same age.
• The presence of teen passengers increases the crash risk of unsupervised teen drivers. This risk increases with increased numbers of teen passengers.
• Crash risk is particularly high during the first months of licensure. Data from the 2017 National Household Travel Survey indicate that the crash rate per mile driven is 1.5 times higher for 16-year-olds than it is for 18 and 19-year-olds.

If one of your children has been involved in a car accident, let a Florida car accident attorney at Searcy Denney help.

Good Rules for Teen Drivers in Florida

Although the statistics are eye-popping, car accidents involving your kids can be prevented. It takes parents who understand, set out, and strictly enforce certain rules for their teen drivers. These rules should include:

• Follow all driving laws, including no speeding.
• Always wear a seatbelt, both as a driver and as a passenger.
• No cell phone use while driving, either hands-free or handheld, including at stoplights and stop signs.
• Do not drive impaired: drunk, high, or drowsy. Do not ride as a passenger with an impaired driver.
• Do not ride with an unlicensed and/or inexperienced teen driver.
• Provide plenty of in-car, passenger seat supervision.
• Start off small. Take trips of less than five miles, and work your way up from there, eventually venturing onto freeways. This helps to build your child’s confidence.
• No driving in the dark.
• No driving in bad weather.
• Provide a safe car for teens to drive: small, easy to maneuver, with good tires.
• Give your teen gentle, constructive criticisms, and keep your temper in check.
• Make sure your teen knows exactly what to do in the event of an accident.
• Pick up a current driver’s guide from your DMV. Go over the rules of the road with them.
• Set a good example. If you run yellow lights, they will too.

Contact Our Florida Car Accident Attorney for Help With Your Teen Driver

If your teen driver has been involved in an accident, contact a Florida car accident attorney at Searcy Denney for help. We offer a free consultation and work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay until and unless you recover. If you need our help, contact us online today.