Teen Driver Safety: No Keys Until You Know The Rules

Officials with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are urging parents of teen drivers to talk to their kids about the Rules For The Road. In addition to general inexperience behind the wheel, there are a few important risk factors teen drivers and their parents need to know about. The NHTSA has put together a set of five rules, the Five to Drive rules, that parents need to talk to their teens about before handing over the keys. These five rules are specifically targeting the unique risk factors facing teen drivers on U.S. roadways.

Five to Drive Rules

1. No alcohol.
2. Always wear a seatbelt.
3. No distracted or drowsy driving.
4. No speeding.
5. No peer passengers.

No Alcohol

In 2016, nearly one out of five teen drivers involved in a fatal crash had been drinking. Parents can be the biggest influencers on teens about driving risks, so talk to your children about the importance of never getting behind the wheel after drinking.

Buckle Up

Buckling up is the single most effective way to protect yourself in the event of a crash. The NHTSA is encouraging parents to talk to their kids about buckling up and making sure to set a good example for impressionable young drivers by always buckling up, no matter how short the trip.

No Distracted or Drowsy Driving

Drowsy and distracted driving are also factors that can increase the likelihood of getting into an injury causing or potentially fatal crash. In 2016, among teen drivers in fatal crashes, 10 percent were reported as distracted at the time of the crash.

No Speeding

Almost one-third (31 percent) of all teen drivers involved in fatal crashes were speeding at the time of the crash. Speeding puts kids at risk for expensive tickets and increases their likelihood of getting into injury crashes and potentially fatal crashes.

No Peer Passengers

Finally, research shows that the risk of fatal crashes goes up dramatically in direct relation to the number of passengers in the car. The likelihood of teens engaging in risky behavior triples when traveling with multiple passengers.

If your child has been injured in a crash involving a teen driver, contact the skilled team at Robes Law Group at (561) 570-5700 or use button below to schedule a free case consultation today.

The information contained in this blog is merely for informational purposes and is not intended as legal advice.