April’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month
Keeping Your Teen Safe While Driving
While it can be an exciting time when teens begin driving, it is can also be a dangerous time. According to the NHTSA, vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for drivers 18 years old and younger. Even though parents may worry about their newly mobile teen, only 25 percent of parents sit down and have a serious conversation with their teens about safe driving.
Breathe Easy Insurance Solutions recommends that parents speak with their teens about how to drive safely and defensively.
Here are five talking points for parents to guide the conversation.
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Always Wear Seat Belts
Most parents have modeled seat belt use to their children, so most likely your teen knows that seat belts are important for safe driving. However, you should speak directly to the need for wearing seat belts 100 percent of the time when he/she is behind the wheel.
Young people between the ages of 16 and 24 use seat belts less frequently than other age groups. Let your new driver know that seat belt use is non-negotiable if he/she wants to drive.
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No Texting and Driving
Speak with your teen about the dangers of distracted driving. Although he/she may have a car equipped with a Bluetooth audio system, hands-free phone use is ultimately still distracting.
Texting is even more dangerous because the driver’s eyes are not on the road while reading or sending a text. Even though a glance at a text-only lasts a few seconds, accidents can happen at any time.
Distracted driving is dangerous for anyone to do, but for inexperienced teens new to driving, the results can be deadly.
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Avoid the Speeding Ticket
Though teens may be inclined to push limits, let them know that driving is no place to do it.
Speeding is not only risky for your teen, but also is also risky for anyone in the car and others on the road.
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Never, Ever Drink and Drive
No amount of alcohol is acceptable for teens while driving. In fact, alcohol use is illegal for anyone under 21 in all states. Still, the NHTSA reports that in approximately 25 percent of all accidents that result in death involve a teen driver with a BAC of .01.
Let your teen know that drinking and then driving a vehicle is not acceptable, no matter what age, even for adults.
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One or No Passengers, Depending On Your State Laws
Some states will allow teenage drivers to have one passenger in the car while she is driving, and in other states, no passengers are permitted. Passengers present additional distractions and can affect the driver’s judgment at crucial times. Remember back when you were a new driver, and then think about having passengers in the car affected your driving and judgment.
Let your teen know that driving is a privilege, and with that privilege comes great responsibility. You must stick to your guns and if the new driver violates any of the rules you establish, you must be willing to take away the keys. Make good on the promise and take the keys if he does not abide by the guidelines you discuss with him. Continue to have regular conversations with the teen about safe driving and other issues to ensure that safety is always a top priority when he is behind the wheel. Train your teen to be a safe and defensive driver and follow up on his driving habits on a regular basis. Soon, you will have another safe and trusted driver in the family.
Breathe Easy Insurance Solutions is your one-stop source for California SR22 insurance. Call 833.786.0237 to speak with a Breathe Easy Insurance Solutions customer service representative to find out more about our cheap SR22 insurance policies and to get your free SR22 insurance quote.