It doesn't hurt to let everyone know you're new at this! | photo credit: MomLogic.com
The nation is on the heels of its 3rd annual Teen Driver Safety Week which was enacted by Congress to increase awareness and precaution for new teen drivers and their families nationwide. Unfortunately, the number of teen fatalities arising from car accidents is staggering: the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates a teen driving tragedy occurs every two and a half hours. It’s more important than ever to educate teens and families about the dangers of unsafe driving.
Parents and teens can work together to help reduce the risk of car accidents. Unfortunately, car accidents are the leading cause of death for teens ages 16 to 19. In an effort to lower these odds, many safety officials have come together to help put an end to teenage car accidents nationwide. One of these groups, Tire Rack Street Survival, is a non-profit organization that aims to teach teen drivers about driving safety above and beyond DMV-required education.
“We’re working to make the roads safer for everyone,” said Bill Wade, national program manager. “Although it’s a year-round problem, National Teen Driver Safety Week is a great opportunity for us to raise awareness and educate parents and teens on the importance of learning proper car control since few realize that driving is one of the most dangerous things they can do.”
In addition to national efforts to raise teen driver safety awareness, parents can start the campaign right at home by considering the following safety tips.
Teen driver safety tips: kickoff safe driving today!
National Teen Driver Safety Week kicks off October 16, but teens and parents can start the road to better driving today. Consider the following tips as your teen eagerly takes the wheel. Remember, education, practice, and rules can make for the best combination in preventing a teen car accident.
Establish a teen driving contract
Before your teen gets behind the wheel, make sure an agreement is in place. Download our free teen driving contract and read the contract out loud. Consider each and every rule and discuss consequences for not following the agreement. If you have specific rules for your teen, make sure to write them into the agreement as well so there is no confusion later. Teens have a clever way of making explaining themselves after breaking the rules, but an agreement solidifies all the details before teens have a chance to break the rules.
Review the car’s user manual
Even before your teen eagerly takes the wheel, make sure s/he understands the vehicle inside and out. Students enrolled in driver’s education courses will have some knowledge of operational tools such as speed dials, shifters, blinkers, emergency brakes, and headlights, but it’s a good idea to discuss these features again. Also, consider discussing the maintenance of the vehicle and start keeping track of required maintenance. Don’t forget to show your teen how to change a flat tire.
No distracted driving is a zero-tolerance policy
Make sure your teen understands that under no circumstance will distracted driving be allowed. This includes limiting passengers while driving. California law states that teen drivers may only drive with passengers once they reach age 18:
“Persons under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian or other person specified by law when transporting passengers under 20 years of age, at any time for the first twelve months or driving between the hours of 11:00 PM and 5:00 AM for the first twelve months.”
Have a backup plan
Teens will sometimes make mistakes. Be sure you discuss a backup plan with your teen driver if s/he gets into a difficult or dangerous situation. Have an open-door policy which ultimately puts the driver’s safety first.
If your teen gets into an accident
If an accident does happen, make sure your teen understands what s/he needs to do. Download our free car accident checklist and store it in the vehicle’s glove box. Sometimes, even well-prepared teens can get into an accident. If your teen has been involved in an injury car accident, call the Law Offices of Michael Pines at 1-800-655-6585 or submit your case online for a free legal review of your case.
About Michael PinesMichael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.
It doesn't hurt to let everyone know you're new at this! | photo credit: MomLogic.com
While many teen drivers are responsible, courteous drivers, their lack of experience puts them at risk for increased chance of car accident, no matter how diligent or alert the teen driver is. But now, the Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection Act (STANDUP) is sweeping the nation with many states already instituting the new teen-only laws designed to protect teens and reduce the chance of car accident or injury while driving.
Did you know that teen drivers are 6 times more likely to get into an auto accident or experience personal injury as a result of inexperienced driving skills? Tragically, over 40,000 teens have died in car accidents, with many more suffering catastrophic injuries, according to Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. The safety group also explains that teen car accidents cost the nation over 30 billion dollars in costs.
How do the STANDUP laws work?
The STANDUP laws are a group of teen-only driving laws that can help reduce the risk of car accident injury. New proposed changes include:
- Only states who comply with STANDUP laws can receive funds from the Department of Transportation to support road maintenance and construction.
- Many states will change learner permit age requirements from 15 to 16 years old.
- Nighttime driving is minimized, allowing teens to drive only during the day.
- No cell phone use is allowed under any circumstance, unless it is an emergency.
- Other passengers are not allowed, or will be restricted, while a teen is driving
Other tips to reduce car accidents
Share the following tips with your teen driver, and consider using a teen driving contract to further emphasize and outline the importance of safe driving. And if you’re a teen driver, please take the following tips to heart – it just may save your life.
Teens:
- Drive like a courteous and responsible driver. In other words, drive like you own the car, not the road. You’ve seen the signs, now it’s your turn: Share the road.
- Slow down, take your time. Speeding is one of the main causes of car accidents, not only for teen drivers, but for adults too. Following the 2-second rule is essential to good driving habits.
- If it’s yellow, slow down. Don’t floor it through a yellow light in hopes to catch it – slow down and stop. No matter if you are a teen or not, you may not cross through a yellow light unless you are already through the intersection. Stop at yellow. It’s the law.
About the Law Offices of Michael Pines
Michael Pines is San Diego’s Safety Ambassador with a mission: prevent car accidents and promote safety. If you or your teen driver has been injured in a car accident, personal injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC, can help. Call us today at 1-800-655-6585 or use our online form for a free legal consultation. No out of pocket costs are involved with the consultation.
About Michael PinesMichael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.
Justin Bieber will help teens realize the dangers of texting and driving through his endorsement of Drive-Safe, an anti-texting software that aims to save lives and reduce the risk of car accidents.
Other supporters of the software including Remember Alex Brown Foundation, a charity organization formed after teenager Alex Brown was unfortunately killed in a text-related car accident.
“We need to change the attitudes in our society toward texting and driving and I am making it one of my personal goals to make this happen.” said Bieber.
A celebrity endorsement is a sure way to ensure that teens take note: the dangers of texting and driving do not outweigh the temptation to engage in the risky behavior. But, parents can be just as effective endorsers of the anti-texting and driving program. In fact, many times, a parent can be even more effective than any other role model out there.
Parents, use the following tips to ensure your child knows that texting and driving is NEVER allowed under any circumstance.
Enforce your rules
Ensure your child understands that rules prohibiting texting and driving are non-negotiables –and that, if broken, carry big consequences. Use the same principles that surround drinking and driving – it’s never OK, and never allowed.
Get to know the law – and tell your teen
Programs like the Graduated Driver Licensing ensure teens are aware of current laws – for instance, if teens are caught texting and driving, they may be fined and their license may even be suspended or revoked. Be sure your teen understands the consequences associated with texting and driving – especially the risk for car accident injury.
About The Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC:
Michael Pines is a safety advocate in the San Diego area, helping injured people seek recovery after a car accident. The Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC, are personal injury attorneys specializing in car accident injury. Call us at 1-800-655-6585 or contact us online for a free legal consultation.
About Michael PinesMichael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.
Thank you for all your help