How To Avoid Teen Car Crashes
Teen car accidents are much more common than many people realize. Motor vehicle crashes were even the leading cause of death for teens aged 13-19 in 2020. With such a large number of teenagers falling victim to car accidents, it is crucial that teens and parents alike take further precautions to avoid such an occurrence from happening. Call a Syracuse car accident attorney from Gattuso & Ciotoli today to learn more.
Teen Car Accidents by the Numbers
Teen drivers have a heightened risk for car accidents due to their inexperience when it comes to driving. In fact, crash risk for teens is dramatically heightened for those with less than five months of driving experience under their belt. In addition, those aged 16-19 have a fatal accident rate that is nearly three times as high as drivers over the age of 20 per mile driven.
2,800 teens lost their lives to car crashes in 2020, averaging out to around eight teens a day who pass away due to car accidents – many of which are preventable. Aside from inexperience, some additional causes of teen crashes and injuries include driving with other teens or young adult passengers, nighttime driving, failure to use seatbelts, and distracted driving.
Teens: What to Remember
The good news is that many teen car accidents are avoidable. By taking a number of precautions before and while driving, teenage drivers can drastically reduce their chances of becoming the victim of a car accident.
- Buckle up: Seatbelts slash the risk of serious death and injury by about half. This is ever so important for teens as recent surveys have shown that nearly 40% of teens do not wear seatbelts when getting in the car with someone else.
- Avoid distractions: Distractions play a major role in causing teen car accidents. Texting, calling, navigating, talking or playing with peers, and eating can all wait until after pulling off to the side of the road or finishing one’s trip altogether.
- Do not drive under the influence: Driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol is a repeated problem in the United States. Refusing to drive while under the influence by identifying a designated driver, using Uber or Lyft, or calling a loved one are all ways to avoid further teen car accidents.
How New York Parents Can Prevent Teen Car Crashes
Parents can also play a major role in preventing car accidents with their teen drivers. Practice is a major way to increase awareness, experience, and risk-evaluation skills. Doing so during different hours of the day and in different driving conditions can greatly reduce their chances of engaging in risky behavior on the road. Teaching teens how to perform safety checks on their cars, discussing local laws and regulations regarding teen driving, and restricting nighttime driving and the number of passengers they are allowed to have in the car at one time are all additional ways to prevent them from falling victim to a serious car accident.
The Personal Injury Law Firm Here for You
Gattuso & Ciotoli is dedicated to the wellness of our clients, both pre- and post-accident. To learn more about how to prevent teen car accidents and what to do after the fact, reach out to a Syracuse teen car accident attorney from our firm who will be available at a moment’s notice to help guide your family. Call us today at (315) 314-8000.