Serious auto accidents disproportionately affect young drivers. If you have a teen who is learning to drive, you likely have concerns about their safety on the road.
Help your new driver avoid dangers with these three tips:
Do away with distractions
Set a good example for your teen by stowing your device when you drive. Emphasize the dangers of texting and driving when you talk to your teen. Set rules and consequences in your household for distracted driving and other dangerous behaviors. In the federal Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 39% of teens reported texting and driving in the previous month.
Stress seatbelt use
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that in 50% of teen auto accident fatalities, the deceased person was not wearing a seatbelt. Tell your teen how important it is to buckle up behind the wheel. As with device use, be a role model by wearing your seatbelt whenever you ride in a car.
Review teen license laws
In California, license restrictions apply for drivers who are not yet 18. Your teen cannot drive with passengers younger than 20 unless supervised by a parent, guardian or licensed driver who is 25 or older. Traveling along with other teens is a car crash risk factor, according to the CDC.
Teen drivers must also stay off the road between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. except in certain circumstances. The CDC estimates that more than a third of collisions involving young motorists occur in the overnight hours.
Reminding your teen to stick to these safety practices can help reduce their risk of auto accident injury.
