Handing over the keys can be a frightening experience for parents. However, if you teach your teen correctly, it doesn’t have to be.
When your child reaches driving age, it is a significant step towards independence. This increased freedom scares most parents, but the reality is that if you have raised your children well, they will usually act responsibly. Given the facts surroundings car accident & teens, what you should really be concerned about is their safety on the road. Below, we explain the basics of teen driving and the best ways to keep your child safe. If they ever do end up in an accident, it is best to speak with a St. Louis auto accident attorney.
Why Teens Are Often Unsafe
There are two primary reasons why teens are unsafe on the road. The first is inexperience. Generally, people start to drive somewhere between the ages of 15 and 19. That means that they are operating on just a few years of experience at most. The second reason is carelessness. Teens tend to be less mature, and thus are more likely to be careless on the road. This frequently leads to accidents.
Top Safety Tips
Though some accidents cannot be avoided, you can significantly decrease your child’s risk by following some of the most important safety tips. They are listed below.
Discourage Phone Usage – One of the top risk factors for teens is phone usage. If you watch your child, this makes a lot of sense. A lot of people in the modern world are glued to their phones, and this is especially true for younger people. When they are driving, they will be tempted to talk, text, or browse the internet. For accident avoidance, it is best to discourage this. A great way to do so is by having your teen put their phone in their glove box for the entirety of their drive.
Promote Defensive Driving– Any car accident attorney will tell you that aggression leads to accidents. If your teen is speeding or driving recklessly, they are at risk.
Minimize Driving in Groups – Studies have shown that teens driving in groups are less safe than driving alone. Try to have your child drive on their own as much as possible.
Communicate About Drunk Driving – Drunk driving is often a factor in teen accidents. You can discourage drinking and driving by having a simple conversation about it.
Lead By Example – Your children are generally going to focus on what you do, not what you say. If you practice unsafe habits, then don’t be surprised when they do the same. You can protect yourself and your child through following safe practices while driving with them.
Putting your teen on the road can be a frightening experience, but if you teach them correctly, it doesn’t have to be. Following a few easy safety tips can increase their safety drastically, so it is worth doing so. Still, no matter how safe your child is, they can be struck by another driver. If this ever happens, it is important to speak with a St. Louis car accident attorney to handle the aftermath properly and get the compensation you and your teen are entitled to.