Summer vacation is a perfect opportunity for students to put down their textbooks and shake off the stress of the spring semester. Now that finals are over, teenagers are taking trips, working summer jobs, visiting friends and family, and exercising their newfound freedom as licensed drivers.
However, we are well into the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer,” the period of time that stretches between Memorial Day and Labor Day, when the number of traffic fatalities involving teen drivers increases by a staggering 26%. In fact, according to We Save Lives, “an average of 260 teens are killed in car crashes each month during the summer.”
Collisions involving teen drivers increase significantly during the summer months because students are out of school and hitting the road for fun and adventure. Unfortunately, it’s not unusual for a young and inexperienced driver to engage in reckless behaviors like speeding and distracting driving.
The AAA Foundation encourages parents to take the following steps to protect their teenage drivers:
- Teach by example, and avoid engaging in dangerous driving behaviors.
- Talk to your kids about abstaining from negligent behaviors behind the wheel, such as speeding, drinking, or using a cell phone when driving.
- Develop a parent-teen driving agreement that establishes your child’s unsupervised driving privileges.
Dr. Bill Van Tassel, the AAA Manager of Driver Training Programs, also advises teenagers to “prepare for summer driving by practicing safety during every trip. Storing your phone out of reach, minding the speed limit, and staying away from impairing substances like alcohol and marijuana will help prevent many crashes from ever occurring.”
To help teen drivers stay safe this summer, the car accident lawyers at High Stakes Injury Law have compiled this list of helpful safety tips:
- Keep your attention focused on the road at all times.
- Always wear a seatbelt.
- Avoid multitasking or using a hand-held device (i.e., smartphone) while operating a motor vehicle.
- Drive defensively and always keep a safe distance (about 2 seconds) from other cars.
- Never make assumptions about other drivers; in fact, always drive as if you’re prepared to face the unexpected.
- Allow extra travel time to avoid speeding.
- Do not drive if you’re exhausted.
- Always use caution when changing lanes or turning.
- Keep an eye out for pedestrians, cyclists, bikers, and scooterists.
- Never, under any circumstances, drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
RETAIN EXPERIENCED & COMPASSIONATE LEGAL REPRESENTATION
We hope that you and your loved ones have a spectacular summer filled with fun and memorable adventures. However, if you require legal representation after a traffic collision, contact the car accident attorneys at High Stakes Injury Law as soon as possible. Our compassionate and results-driven legal team can investigate your case and help you pursue a favorable settlement or verdict.
Contact High Stakes Injury Law at (702) 444-3228 to schedule a free case evaluation today.