As a parent, you always worry about your children. However, sometimes, accidents are simply out of our control. This is especially true when your kids start driving. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the most common causes of car accidents for teenagers in the hopes that knowing the risks involved will lessen the chances of injuries.
Lack of Driving Experience
One of the most common causes of car accidents for teenagers is their lack of driving experience. Teens have not had the opportunity to hone their driving skills the way adults have. This can lead them to make mistakes while behind the wheel, which can, in turn, result in an accident.
What can you do? The best way to help your teen is to impart in them the importance of proper driving. Teach them the road rules. Also, give your kid plenty of time to practice behind the wheel with you as their teacher. Pick safe roads to start with and work your way up to the more difficult ones.
Distracted Driving
The next most common cause of car accidents for teenagers is distracted driving. This can happen due to talking on the phone, texting while in motion, eating food or drinking beverages, fiddling with the radio or music player, and more.
Reiterate the importance of always paying attention to the road when driving. If your teen must take a phone call or text message, tell them to pull over to the side of the road and stop before doing so. Remind them that a few seconds of distraction can lead to tragedy.
Road Rage
Just like everyone on the road, teenagers can be impulsive and aggressive while driving, leading to road rage incidents. These are when one driver gets angry and frustrated with another driver, leading to a potential physical altercation or even a car accident.
Teach your teen the importance of staying calm behind the wheel. Remind them that getting angry will not help the situation and could potentially make it worse. They also need to know the importance of always keeping their hands on the wheel. This will help them stay in control of the vehicle.
Drunk Driving
The last thing you want your teen to do is to drink while driving, but the sad reality is that it happens far too often. The CDC reports that nearly 60 percent of teenager deaths in car crashes involve alcohol.
Make sure your teen knows the dangers of drinking and driving. Discuss the potential legal and personal consequences of getting behind the wheel while intoxicated. Also, promote safe alternatives to drinking and driving for the future (when your teen is of legal drinking age), such as using a designated driver or taking public transportation.
What To Do in Case of a Car Accident
If the unthinkable happens and your teen gets in a car accident, they need to know what to do. So have them memorize the following steps:
- Stay calm and assess the situation.
- Check for injuries and provide first aid if necessary.
- Call 911.
- Make sure the scene is safe.
As their parent (or guardian), it’s your responsibility to ensure that you contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. This will help ensure that you and your child can sort out any injuries or property damage sustained in the accident.
These are just a few of the most common causes of car accidents for teenagers. Since motor vehicle accidents can cause everything from spinal cord injuries to death, it’s essential to be aware of the risks and take the necessary precautions to help keep your teen safe while they’re behind the wheel.
There's nothing scarier than the thought of your child getting in a car accident. Remind them to drive safely and responsibly, especially when they first begin driving. Also, ensure they know the rules of the road and have plenty of practice before getting behind the wheel on their own.
Comment
Comments