- April 17, 2019
- Attorney David Mann
- Car Accidents
The vast majority of new drivers are teens, and until they gain some experience, the first few months of driving can be the most dangerous months of a teen’s life.
There’s no way to guarantee without any doubt that a teen driver will stay safe.
However, with a few little actions you can contribute to greater safety for yourself and your teen driver.
1. Model Good Driving Habits
Even before children become teens, it’s important to be a good role model for them. Whether you like it or not, your children are going to imitate your driving habits. Give them a positive model for what is acceptable and they’ll learn to drive responsibly.
This isn’t complicated. If you want your children to follow the rules of the road, make sure you do it yourself. Keep your instructions consistent with your actions and your children will learn from you.
2. Help them Minimize Distractions
We’re all tempted to use our phones on the road now and then, but this is even more true for teens. Many teens grew up with a smartphone in their hand. It’s not easy for them to let go of it.
You already know how dangerous distracted driving is. Make sure your child understands the dangers and is prepared to avoid distracted driving when (not if) the temptation strikes.
3. Make Sure their Vehicles are as Safe as Possible
Some parents will push back against this, but here goes: It can be a good idea to provide your teen with the newest vehicle and the most sophisticated safety features.
Some parents favor letting children learn the value of their work by earning the money to buy their own cars, but the cars teens can buy aren’t equipped with the latest safety features. For maximum safety, though, parents can consider opting to help their teens get something newer. In the unfortunate event of an accident, consulting with an insurance claim lawyer can be a valuable step to understand potential claims.
4. Help them Get Enough Sleep
Teens need more sleep than the rest of us for optimal performance, and most of the time they get less of it. Drowsy driving accidents have become much more common causes of teenage accidents in recent years. Help your teen by ensuring that he or she gets the proper amount of sleep.
5. Make Sure Teens Know the Dangers of Drunk Driving
Drunk driving is a factor in 16 percent of fatal crashes involving teen drivers. This is a drop from recent years, but drunk driving is still dangerous. Parental guidance and a warning about the dangers of drinking and driving can go a long way toward preventing unnecessary tragedy. If, unfortunately, someone you know is involved in such an incident, consulting a drunk driving accident attorney can provide legal guidance.
Contact Us
The Mann Law Firm represents injured Georgia residents in matters requiring the expertise of a car accident lawyer. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a car accident, it’s important to make sure that you understand your legal rights. Georgia law can be complex, and there is a deadline for filing a claim. The initial consultation is always free, so reach out to us today by calling us or by filling out our online contact form.