Memorial Day has come and gone, which means that the country has entered the 100 deadliest days of the year for teen drivers. It is easy to see why this period from now through Labor Day is so deadly — teens are out of school and spending more time behind the wheel. Still, this is a perfect time for parents to have safety talks with their young drivers. It is also a good idea for others on the road to ensure they are driving safely.
One of the biggest issues that teen drivers face is that they are easily distracted. Cellphones are one of the biggest distractions that they face. Approximately 58.5 percent of fatal crashes have to do with driver distractions. Around 15 percent involve talking to other vehicle occupants, 12 percent are due to cellphones and 11 percent are dealing with something or looking at something in the car.
It is imperative that all drivers focus on the road when they are behind the wheel. When even one driver is distracted, everyone around that driver is at risk of being involved in a crash. For parents of teens, forbidding distracting behavior is necessary. This might include limiting the number of passengers that can ride, even once a teen has an unrestricted driver’s license.
If you are involved in a catastrophic crash with a teen driver, you should treat the accident the same as you would any other. If you are injured, make sure that you get medical care and explore your options for seeking compensation for the astronomical costs that you will incur.
Source: USA Today, “AAA: 100 ‘deadliest days’ of summer: Teens on the road after Memorial Day,” Bart Jansen, accessed June 15, 2018
