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The Facts Surrounding Teen Drivers

March 27, 2016 Hastings and Hastings

It is understandable for parents of teen drivers to be full of anxiety and worry as their children begin to learn the rules of the road. Motor vehicle crashes are almost always the leading cause of death for teens in the United States. In 2013 alone, 2,163 individuals between the ages of 16-19 were killed in motor vehicle collisions. 243,243 more were injured and had to be treated in emergency rooms. Despite these grim statistics, there is good news. Motor vehicle crashes are avoidable. There are steps that can be taken to improve safety.

Cellphones and Driving

According to the most recent statistics gathered by the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, 53 percent of teens admit to talking on the phone while driving. Distracted driving is the second leading cause of motor vehicle accidents, following only driving under the influence. Inexperienced teen drivers cannot afford any distractions. Make sure your teen drivers know that absolute importance of avoiding distractions while driving. Putting the cellphone out of reach is always a good idea.

The First Year is the Most Dangerous

20 percent of 16-year-old drivers are involved in an accident within their first year of driving. Their first year behind the wheel of a car will be the most dangerous. Make sure your teen drive is aware of the dangerous associated with driving but avoid scaring them unnecessarily. A scared driver is an unconfident driver. Driving unconfidently will put them at risk. The best path is to emphasize the importance of following traffic laws. Impart upon them how danger it is to exceed the speed limit. In fact, it has been proven that the risk of a collision increases for every mile per hour a driver goes over the speed limit.