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It might be summertime, but our car accident lawyers know the living isn’t easy if you’re the parent of a teenage driver. Teenagers are at risk for car accidents as they enter the dreaded “Hundred Deadly Days” in June, July and August.
More wrongful deaths of teenage drivers happen in this period than any other time of year, and the Wall Street Journal wants to help teenagers by providing five helpful summer tips to parents and teens to prevent car accidents from happening.
As this school year is coming to a close, parents have to face the scary reality that their teenage driver will be on the roads — some for the first time. Inexperienced drivers and summer traffic are a bad combination as statistics have shown. To help prevent a car accident that can cause personal injuries, the Wall Street Journal has a few helpful hints to keep your teens having fun in the sun.
From a financial standpoint, you may only be able to hand down your current vehicle to your teenage driver. Don’t feel bad if your teen is getting teased because that’s actually one of the best things to do. Why put your teenage driver’s life in the hands of an automobile you have no idea about? Wouldn’t it be better to hand them the keys to a car that has been reliable to you? By restricting your teen’s first car to a family car, you also control when and where they drive.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), parents should also limit nighttime driving. When you drive at night, your visibility is reduced giving you less time to react if you have to avoid a car accident.
Another tip from IIHS refers to how many other people are in the car with your teenage driver. Naturally, your teen is going to want to drive around with as many friends as possible, but more friends in the car equal more driver distractions. Many states’ licensing rules help prevent this from happening, but you, the parent, should still be the main enforcer.
Also as parents, the IIHS wants you to set the example. If you have poor driving habits, your teens will most likely pick them up. If you speed a little too much, for instance, there’s a possibility that trait will pass itself on.
With these tips, you as parents are the first line of defense when it comes to keeping your teenage driver from getting into a car accident. When push comes to shove, however, if you feel your teen isn’t ready to drive, don’t let them. Keep them off the road until they’re ready to be on it safely.
Call us now at 1-858-551-2090 for a FREE consultation with an experienced San Diego car accident lawyer or click here to submit your case for a FREE online review.
SENIOR PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY & FIRM FOUNDER
Michael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who graduated from the University of California Hastings College of the Law in 1987. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes how insurance companies work and how they decide how much 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. Learn more about Michael Pines