National Teen Driver Safety Week is October 19-25: Does Your Young Driver Understand the Rules of The Road?

Car Crashes Cause More Teen Deaths Than Homicide, Suicide or Illness Combined

Automobile crashes are the leading cause of death among U.S. teenagers. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), teen drivers between ages 16 and 19 are three times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than drivers aged 20 and older. The CDC attributes the high rate of vehicle crashes involving teen drivers to the following factors:

Teens often underestimate or fail to recognize dangerous situations
Teens speed more frequently than older drivers
Teens often do not leave enough room between their vehicle and the vehicle in front of them
Teens have a lower rate of seatbelt use than older drivers

Distracted driving is also a key factor in teen driving accidents. A survey by AAA and Seventeen magazine revealed that more than half of teen drivers talk on a cell phone while driving and 25% of teen motorists text while driving. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that 11 teens die every day from texting while driving.

National Teen Driver Safety Week, celebrated October 29-25, is the opportune time for parents to talk with their young drivers about the dangers of unsafe and distracted driving and remind them of actions they should take to stay safe behind the wheel.

Preventive Measures to Keep Teen Drivers Safe

Most accidents involving teen drivers are preventable. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggests five key rules teens should follow to minimize the likelihood of accidents and injuries:

Do not drink and drive
Use seatbelts every time you are in a car, whether in the front seat or back
Do not use cell phones to dial or text while driving
Do not speed
Do not drive with more than one passenger at any time

By adhering to these simple, yet important driving guidelines, many young lives can be saved.

This update has been prepared by Council & Associates for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information is not provided in the course of an attorney-client relationship and is not a substitute for legal advice from a licensed attorney in your jurisdic