Almost every parent with a teen who just got their driver’s license is nervous. There are always issues with new drivers. Now there are even more distracted driving concerns.
Many parents are asking themselves how they can keep their teen drivers safe. If you have a teenage driver, it is important to understand the facts and statistics. Distracted driving causes a lot of accidents. The problem is worse among teens.
There is a reason for concern
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there are risks whenever you hand the car keys to your teen.
In recent years, there have been over 2,000 teens (age 16-19) killed on America’s roads. There are hundreds of thousands of teens treated for serious injuries every year. The CDC’s study found that about six people in that age group die every day on the road.
Reports say that many of those drivers admit to texting or emailing while driving. Regardless of that fact, it is still important to educate your teens on the dangers.
Tell them to avoid some things while driving, including:
- Adjusting the radio or other music sources in the car
- Becoming distracted by things on the side of the road
- Drinking, eating, grooming, reading, smoking or writing
- Emailing, talking or texting
- Searching for things in the car
- Taking their eyes off the road to talk to their passengers
Precautions and preparations can remind teens to drive safe
Multitasking while driving is never a good idea. That is a good message to share with your teen drivers. Reminders of the rules – and the consequences – might help keep them alert and safe.