5 Dangerous Mistakes Made by Teen Drivers

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has introduced a new program intended to keep teen drivers informed and safe while on the road. The campaign, “5 to Drive” urges parents to talk with their young drivers about the five most dangerous factors on the road.

So just what are these five dangerous factors?

ALCOHOL – It’s no surprise that one is alcohol. Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is notoriously unsafe, yet each year, young drivers make the wrong decision to drink and drive. In fact, 29 percent of 15-year-olds to 20-year-olds killed in accidents in 2013 had been drinking at the time of the crash.
CELL PHONES – Another common but unsafe behavior is cell phone use behind the wheel. With technology becoming more ubiquitous than ever, teens are finding themselves pulled toward conversations, music, social media and games behind the wheel. With so many distractions, how could anyone drive safely? Keep your cell phone out of reach or turned off while you’re driving: you’ll be less tempted to take your eyes off the road.
SPEEDING – Speed is also a common factor in accidents involving teen drivers. With their devil-may-care attitudes, many teens feel invincible behind the wheel. Invincible, that is, until they find themselves in an accident. Encouraging your kids to slow down when driving isn’t just about protecting their safety – speeding tickets can also rack up! Use the financial consequences to influence your teen driver’s habits.
NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT – Neglecting to wear your seat belt and having too many teenage passengers in the car are deceptively dangerous. We never know how useful a seat belt is until we need it most. They might be minor annoyances, but they’re real life-savers.
TOO MANY PASSENGERS – And teens may crave independence and want to chauffeur their friends around, but too many teens can lead to too much distraction.

Free Parent-Teen Driving Contract

Many parents and young drivers sign a “Parent‐Teen Driving Agreement,” wherein the teenager promises to drive safely and obey all traffic laws and regulations. These agreements are valuable for reminding first‐time drivers that driving brings with it a set of responsibilities that must be followed. Excessive speed, driver distraction, alcohol use, and lack of seat-belt use all contribute to fatal accidents. One of the ways to combat the high accident rate of teen drivers is to communicate and instill good driving practices.

The Serpe Firm cares about your family and wants you and your teenage driver to stay safe on the roads – Click Here for your free copy of our Parent-Teen Driving Contract

Virginia Car Accident Attorney

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident caused by a negligent driver, you have legal rights. Our office has helped victims of accidents for over 33 years. If you’d like to discuss your situation with our firm, contact us toll free 877-544-5323.