Is Your Teenager at Risk of Getting In a Utah Car Accident?
For most teenagers, getting their driver’s license is one of the happiest days of their lives. For parents, however, it can be a very nerve-racking event. Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death among teenagers in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every three deaths among American teenagers is the result of a car accident, with 12 teens between the ages of 16 and 19 dying each day from car crashes.
Consider the statistics: in 2005, 4,544 teenagers ages 16 to 19 died in car accidents. An additional 400,000 teens in this age group suffered injuries in car accidents that necessitated an emergency room visit. Teenagers account for 12% of all motor vehicle accident deaths in the United States.
A thorough examination of research and statistics provides parents with helpful advice in mitigating the risks of teenage driving. A teenage driver’s risk of getting into an accident increases with the number of teen passengers in the vehicle. You may consider limiting the number of friends your teenager can have in the car until he/she has more experience behind the wheel. Surveys have revealed that three out of ten teenagers have ridden with a driver who was under the influence of alcohol. Make sure your teenager knows the dangers of drunk driving, and assure him/her that you are always available and willing to pick them up, no matter the time or place. While it may be inconvenient for you, a late-night drive with your teenager is far better than a late-night call from the hospital.
Finally, the best method for teaching your teenager safe driving is to practice what you preach. Be sure you always buckle up, and enforce the same rule for all your passengers. Do not drive aggressively, and avoid distractions such as fiddling with the radio or talking on your cell phone. Your teenage driver will learn much from your example.
