Parents of teens often see an increase in gray hair once their teen starts driving. While we can’t always be there to help them make good decisions when it comes to safely operating an automobile, there are things you can do to help them take this new responsibility seriously.
- Educate Teen Drivers on the Consequences of Driving Irresponsibly. Sometimes teens tend to act as if there are no consequences to their actions. Finding creative ways to impress upon them the realities of irresponsible and dangerous driving behaviors can go a long way in keeping your teen safe. Recent studies show that:
- Over 3,900 young drivers were involved in fatal car accidents in 2013.
- Of young drivers killed in fatal car accidents, 29% had blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) of 0.1 g/dL and 24% had BACs of 0.08 g/dL or higher.
- Over 1.2 million young drivers were involved in police-reported accidents in 2013.
- Model Safe Driving By Always Driving Alert, Buckled, and Cautious. Modeling safe and responsible behaviors will impress upon your teen the importance for both the teen and any passengers that your teen carries to wear a seatbelt while driving. The NHTSA estimates that 12,584 lives were saved in 2013 by the use of seat belts.
- Put The Phone Down. Cell phones are one of the top distractions that cause automobile accidents. According to the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, 10% of parents and 20% of teens admitted to having extended text conversations while behind the wheel.
- Use a DriveCam. When you can’t be in the car with your teen, consider installing a DriveCam to monitor their behavior. A DriveCam senses when your teen is driving in an unsafe manner and automatically records and sends to the parents a 12-second video clip of what the driver was doing and experiencing.
- Insist Your Teen Use An Anti-Texting App. There are multiple apps available for iOS and Android phones that will disable your teen’s cell phone while driving.
- Meet With Your Insurance Agent. Many insurance companies have safe driving programs that can help protect your teen and save you on insurance rates. Also, a meeting with your agent will allow a third-party to explain the risks of the road to your teen.
- Ask Your Teen To Sign A No Texting and Driving Pledge. Taking some time after a safe driving talk to have your teen sign a pledge can ingrain in them the solemnity of driving responsibly. Teens Against Distracted Driving provides teens with a free bracelet once they’ve taken the pledge not to text and drive, which helps spread the word to create a better driving culture among our teens.
Contact Horn Law
Helping your child to make better driving decisions is the first step in keeping them safe on the road. However, if you or a loved one was involved in an accident with a distracted driver, you likely will need legal representation. Contact Doug Horn at the Horn Law today online or by calling 816-795-7500 to schedule a consultation.
