Valuable tips for teenagers as they hit the open roads this summer to avoid accidents.
Parents - you cannot remind your teenagers often enough about certain dos and don'ts of driving. Other than harping on them - the best you can do is hold your breath when they get in the car and hope you've hammered home safe driving suggestions that will help ensure your child returns to you in good condition.
To avoid auto accidents:
1. Don't be a risk taker --Car crashes are the leading cause of injury and death for people ages 15 to 20.
2. Don't forget to buckle up--About two-thirds of teens killed in vehicle crashes were not wearing safety belts.
3. Do NOT speed (this point cannot be repeated enough) --One-third of teen fatalities involve speeding.
4. Don't be a rowdy rider-- Adding one teen passenger to a vehicle increases a 16- or 17-year-old driver's crash risk by about 50 percent.
5. Forget the cell phone --Talking on a cell phone while driving can double reaction time.
6. Don't fiddle with your music machines --Research shows that adjusting the radio is the most common distraction for drivers between the ages of 16 and 20.
7. Cut out late-night cruising --Teen crash rates at night (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.) are twice as high as daytime rates. Obey parental and legal driving curfews.
8. DON"T DRINK AND DRIVE --Of 16- to 17-year-old drivers killed in crashes, one in six would have been considered legally intoxicated by adult standards.
9. Don't give in to peer pressure -- Make good choices and don't be afraid to "speak up."
10. Try not to be overly confident -- Inexperience and overconfidence can lead to crashes when new drivers encounter unfamiliar or unexpected situations.
Greg Baumgartner is a Texas personal injury attorney who helps victims of car accidents and truck accidents seek civil justice. To speak with a Texas truck accident lawyer call us today.
