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Watching your teenager drive off on their very own for the primary time is usually a bittersweet expertise. You spent hours and hours getting ready them to be secure drivers, however you continue to fear. How will you go the additional mile to soundly put together your little one for the open highway and keep away from a automobile crash? We are able to reply that query, however first, let’s have a look at a few of the statistics and components that result in teen automobile accidents.
Teen accident statistics
In response to the CDC, about 2,400 teenagers in the usare killed in automobile accidents annually and virtually 258,000 teenagers are hospitalized. Teenage boys are two occasions extra prone to be killed in a automobile accident than teenage women, so in case your son is about to start out driving, it’s possible you’ll wish to take additional care in educating him the right way to be a secure driver. Our final driving security information is a good first step in your dialog in regards to the significance of driver accountability.
Subsequent, let’s discuss a few of the causes teenagers are extra in danger.
Why do teenagers get into accidents?
There are numerous explanation why teen drivers usually tend to be in automobile accidents, and realizing these causes will help you retain your little one out of doubtless harmful conditions. There are two most important classes that almost all teen automobile accidents fall into: components outdoors of their management and people which might be inside their management. We’ll go over every.
Elements outdoors of their management
Inexperience is harmful
Your little one is most susceptible to being in an accident within the months after they get hold of their driver’s license. Usually talking, the extra apply somebody has earlier than getting their license, the much less possible they’re to get in a automobile accident.
How one can assist:
Even after your teen is legally capable of drive alone, proceed common driving classes with them to bolster good habits.
Drowsy driving
About one in 10 automobile accidents are brought on by drowsy driving. Teenagers have busy schedules, and whereas they might really feel nice to drive house after a protracted day, many don’t perceive their very own limitations but. Alert driving is accountable driving.
How one can assist:
Train your little one to acknowledge the indicators that they might be too drained to drive; extreme yawning, incapacity to focus, and lacking turns are all issues to look out for. Reassure your teen that in the event that they really feel this manner, you might be solely a cellphone name away and can choose them up if want be.
Elements inside their management
Extra passengers are much less secure
In case your teenager has develop into their associates’ driver of selection, it’ll improve their probabilities of being in an accident. In truth, that likelihood will increase with each further teen passenger they’ve of their car.
How one can assist:
It’s important to set clear boundaries together with your little one about what number of associates they will have of their automobile at one time. There are sometimes authorized limits to this as effectively relying on how lengthy your teen has had their license.
Seat belts are key
Sadly, teenagers are much less possible to make use of seat belts than grownup drivers. Solely 87% of teenagers commonly bear in mind to make use of their seatbelts, whereas grownup drivers have a tendency to recollect 90% p.c of the time.
How one can assist:
Lead by instance by all the time buckling up whenever you drive and remind your teen to do the identical. Allow them to know their driving privileges will solely be allowed to proceed in the event that they all the time use their seatbelt.
Texting whereas driving
In response to the 2019 Nationwide Youth Threat Habits Survey, about 39% of teenagers ship texts or emails whereas driving. This type of distracted driving claims about 3,142 lives a yr, and people numbers appear to be rising. Some states have even banned using telephones by drivers altogether, so we’ve compiled every state’s particular mobile phone legal guidelines.
How one can assist:
Discuss to your teen driver about how harmful distracted driving could be. You may as well try this record of apps that can forestall your little one from utilizing their cellphone whereas driving.
Dashing
Teenagers are much more possible than older drivers to hurry, and dashing is a large issue on the subject of the severity of automobile accidents. In 2018, 30% of male drivers aged 15–20 years and 18% of feminine drivers aged 15–20 years concerned in deadly crashes have been dashing.
How one can assist:
As all the time, you must speak to your teen in regards to the risks of dashing and proceed to show secure strategies in your driving. There are additionally monitoring methods you should utilize to observe your little one’s driving.
Ingesting and driving
Everyone knows that consuming any quantity of alcohol can improve the danger of a automobile accident. Youngsters who drive beneath the affect are much more prone to be concerned in a crash. In 2018, 24% of drivers aged 15–20 killed in deadly motorized vehicle crashes had been consuming.
How one can assist:
Though consuming beneath the age of 21 is illegitimate within the U.S., many teenagers nonetheless discover a solution to drink. Being an concerned mum or dad could also be the absolute best solution to preserve them from consuming and driving. Methods to do that embody setting a curfew and greeting your little one after they get house to verify for indicators of alcohol use, ensuring your individual alcohol in the home just isn’t simply accessible, and making a pact together with your teen that they’ll by no means drink and drive. Take into account a contract you may print out and have them signal to know the significance of solely driving when sober. Lastly, let your little one know that if they’re ever in a state of affairs the place they or the individual they’re driving with has been consuming, they will name you for a secure experience house.
Even with all of the prevention on the planet, typically accidents do occur. That’s why it’s important that your little one additionally is aware of what to do if they’re concerned in a crash.
What to do in an accident
In case your teen is concerned in a automobile accident, they should have a transparent plan of motion in order that they don’t panic. The next steps are an awesome normal information to share together with your teen driver:
- See if anyone in every car concerned is damage. If they’re, name 911 ASAP.
- Transfer your car off the highway/out of visitors if it’s drivable and activate the hazard lights.
- If it’s not possible to drive the car, name roadside help or a towing firm to maneuver the automobile.
- Name the police to report the accident.
- Alternate contact and insurance coverage firm info with the opposite driver.
- Take images of the accident.
- Write down some other particulars in regards to the accident in your cellphone’s Notes app. Embrace the opposite driver’s contact information, driver’s license information, the opposite automobiles make and mannequin, the situation, the climate on the time of the accident, the date, and the time. Additionally, embody any contact info for witnesses.
- Get a duplicate of the police report.
- Name your insurance coverage firm to start out the claims course of.
- Let the insurance coverage firm information the method from there.
Insurance coverage to your teen
Your teen ought to be added to your Automotive automobile insurance coverage coverage as quickly as they’re licensed. We provide financial savings and secure driving incentives to your teen, together with accident forgiveness.
With the proper apply and data of the right way to each forestall teen automobile accidents and what to do ought to one happen, you may relaxation straightforward realizing your little one is safer on the highway. Shield them within the course of by getting a quote at present.
