Teen Drivers Are At The Highest Accident Risk During Summer
Summer is usually thought of as a time for rest, relaxation, and vacations. However, with school out and many people on the road, the summer months also happen to be especially dangerous for teen drivers. As Boston.com reports, the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is when so many fatal car accidents involving teen drivers happen such that it is referred to as the ‘100 Deadliest Days.’ Below is a look at why summer is so deadly for teen drivers and what parents can do to keep their teenaged children safe.
Why summer is dangerous for teen drivers
The most recently available statistics show that during the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day in 2016 there were 1,050 deaths from accidents that involved teen drivers. That averages out to about 10 fatalities each day nationwide during the summer or about 14 percent higher than other times of the year.
Summer is so dangerous for teen drivers mainly because with school out there is simply more spare time to spend on the road. Furthermore, during the summer teens are more likely to be driving with friends, who can be distracting, or late at night, when the risk of an accident increases substantially. In fact, according to Cape Cod Today, ten percent of all nighttime accident fatalities involve teen drivers and 36 percent of all fatal accidents involving teen drivers happen after 9 p.m.
How to keep teen drivers safe
Teen drivers are usually inexperienced and thus need more rules than other drivers to stay safe on the road. Parents play a major role in making sure their teenage children know what is and is not okay when driving. Cell phones need to be entirely banned for teen drivers and a limit should be set on the number of passengers a teen driver can have in the vehicle. Due to the high risk of nighttime accidents, parents should give their teen drivers firm curfews.
Perhaps the most effective way parents can teach their children to drive safely, however, is by leading by example. That means always wearing a seatbelt, never texting and driving, and always obeying the posted speed limit. Teenagers are more likely to drive safely if they witness their parents routinely engaging in safe driving behaviors themselves.
Personal injury law
The risk of being involved in a teen-driver accident is relatively high, especially during the summer season. Anybody who has been injured in an accident should get in touch with a personal injury attorney today. In many cases, compensation will be available to help cover the costs related to a crash. An experienced attorney can show clients how to go about filing a claim for any compensation they may be entitled to.