It is every parent’s worse nightmare, that phone call letting us know that our child has been injured or worse, suffered a fatal injury, while driving.  The truth is that car accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers ages 15 to 20, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  Mile for mile, teenagers are involved in three times as many fatal crashes as all other drivers.

In 2003, Florida was ranked number 4 among the 50 states with the worst fatal crash rate.  In 2008, 4 of the 10 deadliest hotspots for teen fatalities among the 50 largest metro areas were found in Florida.  In 2007, 306 15 to 19 year olds in Florida died in traffic crashes and 25,465 were injured.  About 42% of those killed were driving.

The Center for Disease Control reports that more than half of all teen car accidents occur on the weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday).  Furthermore, we know the causes for a teen’s increased risk of being involved in a crash.  Research shows that inexperience and immaturity combined with speed, drinking and driving, not wearing seat belts, distracted driving (cell phone use, loud music, other teen passengers, etc.), drowsy driving, nighttime driving, and other drug use contribute to this increased risk for our teenagers.

The statistics are harsh.  However, there are steps we as parents can take to minimize our teenagers’ risk of accident related injuries.  Suggested safety rules for teen drivers as provided by the NHTSA are:

  • Absolutely no alcohol (no exceptions)
  • Always buckle up (In Florida, it is the law!!)
  • NO TALKING OR TEXTING while driving ( the risk of a crash or near crash is 23.2 times more likely when texting and reaction time is slowed by 35% when reading or writing a text … this applies to adults as well!!!) – Parents:  look into purchasing Apps available for your teens cell phones that prevent texting while driving)
  • Curfew:  Car back in the driveway by 10 p.m. (and make sure there are real consequences when teens break curfew)
  • Passengers:  No more than one at all times (this simple rule has saved many lives according to the NHTSA)

There are additional rules that save lives:  no speeding, not riding in a vehicle where the driver has been drinking, avoiding distractions like eating, changing the radio, applying make-up while driving.

Parents talk to your kids about the dangers of driving, stick to your rules and invest in technology to block texting while driving, because unfortunately, some kids won’t make it home.

– Alida Darias, Esq., is an experienced personal injury attorney with Bogin, Munns, & Munns, P.A., a full service law firm with offices in Orlando, Clermont, Kissimmee, Deltona, Daytona Beach, Ocala, Melbourne, Gainesville, and Leesburg, Florida.  Ms. Darias works out of the Clermont office of the firm and welcomes questions and comments regarding the above and can be reached at adarius@boginmunns.com

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