Car crashes are the #1 cause of death for teens 16-19. In 2017, more than 300,000 teens were sent to the emergency room because of a car crash. These accidents are always tragic, but they are also preventable through a combination of safety training and strong parenting. That’s why we put together this guide, to help you protect your teen from a fatal car crash.
Educate Your Child About Speeding
Many teens speed to experience the exhilarating freedom of the open road. However, roughly 30% of teen car crash fatalities occur while speeding. Speeding dramatically increases the damage in a car crash. Generally speaking, a car crash at 100mph is 30% deadlier than a crash in the same car at 70mph.
Sit down with your teen and let them know that speeding accidents are not only deadly but common. The higher a vehicle’s speed, the less time the driver has to react to oncoming hazards. Even speeding on a straight highway can have devastating consequences if a strong gust of wind forces a driver out of their lane.
Don’t Let Your Child Drive a Night
About half of all car accidents happen at night and they’re 40% more fatal than car accidents during the day. While your teen needs some night-driving experience to earn their license, they’re not supposed to drive between 11 P.M. and 5 A.M.
Generally speaking, night time driving is riskier because of low visibility, increased dangers from speeding, and the risk of drunk drivers. That isn’t to say your teen will make bad decisions while driving at night, only that they are inexperienced. To help them get that valuable experience, you can encourage your teen to go for a drive with you earlier in the night. This will not only build their confidence but allow you to point out hazards as they come.
Offer to Help Your Teen Avoid a DUI
Teens drink; there’s no denying that. If you suspect your teen is going to a gathering where there will be alcohol, the best thing you can do is accept that possibility and offer to drive them. Your teen may resist, but it’s important you remind them that getting dropped off by their parents is a lot better than getting pulled over for a DUI, or worse, getting in a car crash.
In all of this, you are the key to ensuring your teen’s safety. You have the ability to give them the education and support they need to drive safely.
If your teen suffered serious injuries or even wrongful death in a car crash, you might need an attorney who puts people first. If you’d like an experienced Sacramento injury lawyer from Piering Law Firm to evaluate your case, please send us an email or call (916) 476-2399.