Florida Injury Lawyer Blog
Car accidents continue to be the leading cause of death for teens across the nation. Teen drivers have more fatal crashes, mainly because of their immaturity and lack of experience. They speed, they make mistakes, and they get distracted easily – especially if their friends are in the car.
That’s why officials with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched the “5 to Drive” campaign. This campaign aims to help get parents off on the right foot when having that conversation about safe driving with their teens. This campaign is providing parents with a simple 5-bullet checklist than can help save lives.
Our Fort Myers car accident lawyers understand that teens may think they’re invincible behind the wheel, but we all know better. What you may not believe is that parents are the most influential people in a teenager’s life. What you say matters. That is why safety officials are calling on parents and guardians to have the talk today to help save lives tomorrow. Continue reading and review the checklist below to make sure you’ve covered all bases:
“5 To Drive”
-Never use a cell phone or other electronic device while operating a motor vehicle. Distractions are one of the most common factors in teenage car accidents. Keep all of your attention on the road at all times.
-Keep an eye on the posted speed. The faster you’re traveling, the higher your risks are for a fatal accident. Remember to adjust your driving to the current weather and traffic conditions, too.
-Keep the passengers to a minimum. Passengers are a serious distraction. Travel with as few passengers as possible and keep your attention on the road.
-Never drink and driver. You also never want to get into the vehicle with a driver who has been consuming alcohol. Not only is it illegal, it’s dangerous.
-Always wear your seat belt. You’re chances of surviving an accident increase by about 50 percent when wearing a seat belt. Buckle up. It’s the law.
Parents are also encouraged to incorporate these rules into a parent-teen driving contract. This contract will help lay down the expectations that you have of your teen and also the consequences for breaking them. Make sure both parties have read, agreed to and signed this agreement.
In 2010, there were 80 teenage drivers killed in car accidents in the state of Florida. In addition to that, there were close to 65 teen passengers killed and close to 11,000 injured teen drivers in the 27,000 teen car accidents recorded throughout the state that year. Step up and help to stop these tragic accidents. Have the talk today.
If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident, contact Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured. Call for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights. 1-800-283-2900.
More Blog Entries:
Early Dark Increases Accident Risks in Southwest Florida , Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, October 30, 2013
Auto Accidents and Pregnancy – Mitigating Your Auto Accident Injury Risks , Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, October 24, 2013
