As part of National Teen Driver Safety Week, celebrated annually October 18 through the 24, the United States Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration urged parents of teen drivers to talk to them about safety. The NHTSA recommended that parents sit teens down to discuss some of the most risky behaviors among teen drivers, including failure to wear seat belts, texting, alcohol use, speeding, and riding with extra teen passengers.
The NHTSA reports that motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among 15 and 20 year olds across the country. In 2013, more than 2,600 teen drivers and passengers were killed in car accidents while another 13,000 were injured. Despite these alarming statistics, few parents talk to their kids about risky behaviors that lead to accidents.
The experienced Mississippi car accident attorneys at Barrett Law, PLLC want to see all our local teens stay safe while driving around the state. We believe that with parents modeling positive driving behaviors and discussing safety tips with their teens, the rate of teen accidents can decline.
The following is a look at the five most dangerous behaviors for teen drivers, as identified by the NHTSA in its “5 to Drive” campaign:
5 to Drive
- Do not use alcohol: About a third of all teen accidents involve the use of alcohol. Drinking and driving is illegal and deadly. Advise your teens as to the dangers of drinking and driving and enforce your rules concerning this risky behavior.
- Put away the cell phone: Texting and driving is one of the leading causes of fatal car accidents. Young drivers are the most likely to be distracted by cell phones and other electronic devices.
- Always wear a seat belt: More than half of all teens killed in car accidents were not wearing their seat belt at the time of the accident. Make sure your teen knows the importance of wearing a seat belt and does so each and every time he or she gets in the car.
- Stay within the speed limit: Speed is a factor in nearly half of all teen accidents. Instruct your teen as to the risks of speeding as well as the penalties they may face if caught speeding. Ride with your teen whenever possible so that you can ensure they are following the speed limit.
- Restrict passengers: Studies show that driving with teen passengers greatly increases the risk of accidents. Teen drivers are more likely to speed, not wear their seat belts, and engage in other risky behaviors if they are driving fellow teens. Do not allow your teen to drive with young passengers until they are older and more established as safe drivers.
The most important thing you can do as the parent of a teen is talk to your teen about safe driving. Do not delay; sit down and display statistics, videos, experiences, and the like so that your teen understands the risks of engaging in dangerous driving behaviors.
Barrett Law, PLLC: Put Our Decades of Experience to Work on Your Car Accident Case!
If you have been injured in a car accident, contact the Mississippi Automobile Accident Attorneys at Barrett Law, PLLC. Our preeminent Mississippi law firm has assisted injured car accident victims and their families for over 75 years. We fight for our injured clients to receive the coverage they deserve for their medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and much more. Do not delay in seeking legal assistance as you have a limited time within which to file a claim after your injury. Call Barrett Law, PLLC today at 1 (800) 707-9577 to schedule your free initial consultation.