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Preventing the Most Common Teen Driver Mistakes Can Save Lives

It is not rude that say that teen drivers are more likely to get into a car accident – it is a fact. The reality is that much of it is not their fault. They are more impulsive, they do not have the experience they need, and they often do not realize how serious consequences can be. If you are worried about your teen driver then we encourage you to consider the most common causes of teen accidents. If you or your teen has been injured, please contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.

Teens must wear their seatbelts

One of the most serious mistakes a teen can make is to not wear their seatbelt. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that more than half of the teens who die in fatal car accidents were not wearing a seatbelt. Considering that the teens of today grew up in car seats and booster seats, it may be surprising how many teens do not think their seatbelt is important.

Research has shown that simply reminding a person to buckle their seatbelt can have a huge impact. Tell your teen every time they leave the house that they need to buckle up and that their passengers need to as well. They may get tired of hearing it but it is a good way to increase the likelihood that they will be wearing their seatbelts.

Keep your teens focused

Another big issue for teen drivers is distracted driving. We all know that teens are on their phones and other electronic devices constantly. Your teen needs to know that they should never use their phone while driving. Establish a policy of zero tolerance when they are driving – and when you are driving too! There are apps that will disable your teen’s phone from being used while driving too.

Teach your teens not to follow too closely

Teens are some of the worst offenders when it comes to flowing vehicles too closely. They often overestimate how quickly they would be able to react if something happened. They may not realize how long it would take their vehicle to stop. They may not have even considered that the vehicle in front of them could stop abruptly. Teach them how to follow a safe distance and how to know they are far enough behind.

Have a no-tolerance policy for speeding

Speeding is a factor in most fatal car accidents. We understand that it can be tempting for a teen to speed but the reality is that it simply is not safe. Your teen should know that it is not just a speeding ticket they should worry about. Tell them that you will revoke their driving privileges if you catch them speeding. Once again, there are apps you can download to their phones that let you know if they were speeding, if they applied the brakes too hard, etc.

If you or your teen are involved in a car accident then the first priority is getting medical help. Then reach out to Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation with an attorney.