Watching your teenager drive off on their very own for the primary time is usually a bittersweet expertise. You spent hours and hours making ready them to be protected drivers, however you continue to fear. How will you go the additional mile to soundly put together your little one for the open street? We are able to reply that query, however first, let’s have a look at a number of the statistics and components that result in teen automobile accidents.
Teen accident statistics
In keeping with the CDC and the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration, about 2,800 teenagers in the usare killed in automobile accidents annually and virtually 227,000 teenagers are hospitalized. Teenage boys are two occasions extra prone to be killed in a automobile accident than teenage women, so in case your son is about to start out driving, it’s possible you’ll need to take further care in instructing him be a protected driver. Our final driving security information is a good first step in your dialog in regards to the significance of driver duty.
Subsequent, let’s speak about a number of the causes teenagers are extra in danger.
Why do teenagers get into accidents?
There are numerous explanation why teen drivers usually tend to be in automobile accidents, and figuring out these causes might help you retain your little one out of doubtless harmful conditions. There are two essential classes that the majority teen accidents fall into: components exterior of their management and people which can be inside their management. We’ll go over every.
Elements exterior of a teen driver’s management
Inexperience is harmful
A teen driver is most prone to being in an accident within the months after they get hold of their driver’s license.
How one can assist: Even after your teen is legally capable of drive alone, proceed common driving classes with them to bolster good habits.
Male teenagers are at greater danger
The motorized vehicle crash dying fee for male drivers ages 16–19 years was thrice as excessive because the dying fee for feminine drivers in the identical age group in 2020 in accordance the Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security (IIHS) examine, Fatality Details 2020: Youngsters.
Elements inside a teen driver’s management: scale back distracted driving
Extra passengers can result in distracted drivers
In case your teenager has grow to be their buddies’ driver of alternative, it’ll improve their probabilities of being in an accident. Actually, that likelihood will increase with each further teen passenger they’ve of their car.
How one can assist: It’s important to set clear boundaries along with your little one about what number of buddies they’ll have of their automobile at one time. There are sometimes authorized limits to this as effectively relying on the regulation and the way lengthy your teen has had their license.
Cellphone use whereas driving
In keeping with the 2019 Nationwide Youth Threat Habits Survey, about 39% of teenagers ship texts or emails on their cell telephones whereas driving. This habits results in distracted driving crashes that claims about 3,142 lives a 12 months, and people numbers appear to be rising. Some states have even banned the usage of cell telephones by drivers altogether, so we’ve compiled every state’s particular mobile phone distracted driving legal guidelines under.
How one can assist: Discuss to your teen driver about how harmful mobile phone use whereas driving, together with texting, speaking and utilizing a navigation system, might be. You too can take a look at this record of apps that may stop your little one from utilizing their mobile phone whereas driving.
Drowsy driving
About one in 10 automobile accidents are attributable to drowsy driving. Teenagers have busy schedules, and whereas they could really feel wonderful to drive dwelling after a protracted day, many don’t perceive their very own limitations but. Cognitive distraction, in addition to impaired visible processing, might end result from fatigue.
How one can assist: Educate your little one to acknowledge the indicators that they could be too drained to drive; extreme yawning, incapability to focus, distractions and lacking turns are all issues to look out for. Reassure your teen that in the event that they really feel this fashion, you’re solely a cellphone name away and can choose them up if want be.
Different components that contribute to deadly crashes
Seat belts are key
Sadly, teenagers are much less possible to make use of seat belts than grownup drivers. Solely 87% of teenagers recurrently keep in mind to make use of their seatbelts, whereas grownup drivers have a tendency to recollect 90% p.c of the time.
How one can assist: Lead by instance by all the time buckling up once you drive and remind your new driver to do the identical. Allow them to know their driving privileges will solely be allowed to proceed in the event that they all the time use their seatbelt.
Rushing
Teenagers are way more possible than older drivers to hurry, and rushing is a large issue with regards to the severity of automobile accidents. In 2018, 30% of male drivers aged 15–20 years and 18% of feminine drivers aged 15–20 years concerned in deadly crashes had been rushing.
How one can assist: As all the time, you must discuss to your teen in regards to the risks of rushing and proceed to exhibit protected strategies in your driving. There are additionally monitoring techniques you need to use to watch your little one’s driving.
Ingesting and driving
Everyone knows that ingesting any quantity of alcohol can improve the chance of a automobile accident. Youngsters who drive below the affect are much more prone to be concerned in a crash. In 2018, 24% of drivers aged 15–20 killed in deadly motorized vehicle crashes had been ingesting.
How one can assist: Though ingesting below the age of 21 is illegitimate within the U.S., many teenagers nonetheless discover a method to drink. Being an concerned mother or father could also be the absolute best method to maintain them from ingesting and driving. Methods to do that embrace setting a curfew and greeting your little one once they get dwelling to test for indicators of alcohol use, ensuring your personal alcohol in the home just isn’t simply accessible, and making a pact along with your teen that they are going to by no means drink and drive.
Contemplate a contract you’ll be able to print out and have them signal to grasp the significance of solely driving when sober. Lastly, let your little one know that if they’re ever in a state of affairs the place they or the particular person they’re using with has been ingesting, they’ll name you for a protected trip dwelling.
Even with all of the prevention on this planet, generally accidents do occur. That’s why it’s important that your little one additionally is aware of what to do if they’re concerned in a crash.
Nighttime and weekend driving
Nighttime driving is riskier for drivers of all ages, however is especially harmful for teen drivers. In keeping with the Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security (IIHS) examine, Fatality Details 2020: Youngsters, 44% of motorized vehicle crash deaths amongst teenagers ages 13–19 occurred between 9 pm and 6 am, and 50% occurred on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday in 2020. And the deadly crash fee at evening amongst teen drivers (ages 16–19 years) is about 3 occasions as excessive as that of grownup drivers (ages 30–59 years) per mile pushed. Teenagers ought to keep away from driving at evening, notably on weekend nights, if attainable.
What to do in an accident
In case your teen is concerned in a automobile accident, they will need to have a transparent plan of motion so that they don’t panic. The next steps are a terrific common information to share along with your teen driver:
- See if anyone is damage. If they’re, name 911 ASAP.
- Transfer your car off the street/out of site visitors if it’s drivable and activate the hazard lights.
- If it’s inconceivable to drive the car, name roadside help or a towing firm to maneuver the automobile.
- Name the police to report the accident.
- Change contact and insurance coverage data with the opposite driver.
- Take photographs of the accident.
- Write down every other particulars in regards to the accident in your cellphone’s Notes app. Embrace the opposite driver’s contact data, their car’s make and mannequin, the placement, the climate on the time of the accident, the date, and the time. Additionally, embrace any contact data for witnesses.
- Get a duplicate of the police report.
- Name your insurance coverage firm to start out the claims course of.
- Let the insurance coverage firm information the method from there.
Insurance coverage on your teen
Your teen ought to be added to your Elephant automobile insurance coverage coverage as quickly as they’re licensed. We provide financial savings and protected driving incentives on your teen, together with accident forgiveness.
With the proper apply and information of each stop teen automobile accidents and what to do ought to one happen, you’ll be able to relaxation straightforward figuring out your little one is safer on the street. Shield them within the course of by getting a quote right this moment.
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