Parents of teenagers need to educate them about the increased risks of teens getting into car crashes. Although teens might think that they are the best drivers in the world, the fact is that teenagers face increased risks of getting hurt when driving. Sharing the facts listed below with your young drivers may ensure they fully understand the dangers they face.
- Studies have shown that teenagers have yet to fully develop the area of the brain that evaluates the risks and dangers of different situations. For this reason, they might make the wrong decisions at critical times that end up putting them at risk. For example, teens might underestimate the real risks involved with not wearing seat belts, speeding, ignoring traffic laws and intoxicated driving.
- Having passengers on board in a car increases a teen’s chances of engaging in risky behavior and in becoming distracted while on the road. The biggest risks come when male teenage passengers are present in the vehicle.
- Approximately half of teenage deaths in motor vehicle accidents happen between the hours of 3 p.m. and midnight. Also, approximately half of the deaths happen on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
- Compared to all groups, teens are least likely drivers to use seat belts. Only 61 percent of teens said that they always donned seat belts when riding in vehicles driven by another person.
The more your teen knows about the risks of being a teenage driver, the more likely he or she will be to take care and being cautious when riding with others and driving. If your teen suffers a serious injury in a motor vehicle accident, however, it might not be his or her fault. You may want to assist you teen in determining whether sufficient cause of action exists to pursue a claim for damages in the Michigan civil courts.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Teen Drivers: Get the Facts,” accessed Feb. 02, 2018