Back to School: Keeping Your Teen Driver Safe

As school starts up again, it is important to not only prepare your teen for the school year, but for a safe year of driving as well. Teenage drivers are more likely to engage in risky behavior than other drivers, and they are also less likely to react effectively in an emergency.

Did you know one in five teenage drivers will get into a car accident during their first year of driving? It’s a scary statistic, but there is a lot you can do to ensure your child’s safety on the road.

The attorneys at Mickey Keenan, P.A. do not want your child to be a part of this statistic, after all, your family is our family, so we have put together a back-to-school list on how to keep your teenage driver safe.

Five Back-to-school Tips for Keeping Your Teenage Driver Safe on the Road

1. Talk with your teenager.

The NHTSA (The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) reports that when parents talk with their teenage drivers, they are less likely to engage in risky behavior while driving.

These teens are more likely to wear seat belts and less likely to speed. Simple and open communication helps young drivers understand the dangers that are associated with reckless and careless driving.

2. Create rules.

As you sit down and talk with your teenager, it is also important to create rules. These rules will help decrease certain risky behaviors which can lead to fewer accidents. Consider banning cell phone use of any kind while driving, limiting the number of passengers in the car, and limiting night driving.

3. Discuss the seriousness of drinking and driving.

No matter how unlikely you think it is, it is extremely important to discuss the dangers of alcohol use with your teens. Driving brings newfound freedom, and your child may end up in positions or places they shouldn’t be in.

It is illegal for anyone under 21 to drink as it is, but no one should ever get behind the wheel after drinking. It’s important for your teenager to understand that no matter what the circumstance, you would never be upset at them for calling you for a ride. They need to know the risk of attempting to drive outweighs any possible punishment for being intoxicated in the first place.

When you are creating rules for your teen driver, make sure you set zero tolerance for drinking and driving.

4. Use an app to track.

Technology has come a long way and can be very useful when it comes to keeping your teenage driver safe. There are many useful apps that can track your teen’s driving habits, such as tracking their speed, hard braking, and cellphone use while driving.

With this feedback, your child can know what they should be correcting. Also, when teens know they are being tracked and monitored, they will most likely make the choice to drive safer.

5. Limit night driving.

Driving at night is a leading contributor to teenage car accidents. Driving at night takes additional practice and skill, and while your new driver is still learning, unsupervised night driving should be limited.

Make sure to spend extra time driving at night with your teen driver, as increased practice will help reduce accidents.

Teen Driver: Time to Check Your Car Insurance Coverages

Be proactive! With a young driver sharing the road, now is a time to check your auto insurance policy to ensure that you have the proper protections in place.

Review it to make sure that your deductibles and uninsured motorist coverage are enough to cover your family – before an accident occurs.

Mickey Keenan, P.A. Your Car Accident Attorney for Florida Teen Drivers

It is important for teenage drivers to know that all the driving laws apply to them the same as other drivers. They are not immune to the law just because they are still learning. Teenage drivers who violate the law or engage in risky driving can still receive a ticket or a misdemeanor charge and are still liable to the victims for any damages that may be a result of a crash.

If your teenager was in a car accident, contact our injury attorneys at Mickey Keenan, P.A. at 813-871-1300 for a free consultation. We’re available 24/7 to help make your family whole again.