Teen Driving Safety

By Mike Glisson | October 19, 2020

This week is NHTSA’s Teen Driving Safety week. “2,121 people were killed in crashes involving a teen driver in 2018” and crashes remain to be the leading cause of teen deaths. This is why NHTSA continues to promote teen driving safety annually.

According to the CDC, “per mile driven, teen drivers [aged 16-19] are nearly three times more likely than drivers aged 20 and older to be in a fatal crash.

And according to the National Safety council, “Half of all teens will be involved in a car crash before graduating from high school”. 

 So, why are so many teens getting in car accidents? 

Reasons crashes are so high among teen drivers:

 The largest reason is due to the teen driver’s lack of experience, however, several more reasons are listed below

  • Inexperience
  • Speeding
  • Lack of seat belt use
  • Alcohol use
  • Nighttime and weekend driving 
  • Distracted driving
  • Reckless driving

Tips parents can follow to increase teen driving safety

So, what can parents do to combat this risk with their teens? The NHTSA offers a few ideas: 

  • Talk to your teen early about the responsibility of becoming a new driver
  • Learn about your states GDL Laws
    • This is a three stage system that limits high risk driving situations for new drivers
  • Set your own rules and consequences
  • Talk to your teen and remind them about the dangers of driving under the influence or getting in the car with someone under the influence.
  • Set a good example yourself before they even start driving. Your child watches and follows your behaviors more than you think. Keep your message to your teen and your actions consistent. 

Contact: Glisson Law

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