It is undeniable, teaching your teen to drive is one of those benchmark experiences in life that puts both teens and parents through a gauntlet of emotions. Fear, excitement, pride, even, to some degree, dread. At times, the stress alone can seem daunting. But, ABC News reports that a new study released by the AAA Foundation this week found that time shared between parents and their young drivers is critically important and potentially life-saving.
What the study found is that parents spent on average less than two hour a week supervising their teen behind the wheel and most of that time was spent driving in the most benign of conditions – during mid-afternoon, in light traffic, under sunny skies, on residential roads. AAA recommends parents spend closer to four hours a week with their teen driver and particularly stresses the importance of teaching teens to drive in diverse settings.
As a New York City car accident attorney, I recently reported on my New York Injury Lawyer blog about a Brooklyn car accident involving a teenage driver that left one 13-year-old girl dead. We additionally reported that, on average, a teenage driver or passenger is killed once an hour on weekends and once every two hours on weekdays.
In response to the study findings and to nationwide statistics that reflect teen drivers as the most likely to be involved in car accident, AAA has set up an online teen driver safety guide tailored with resources for parents and teens in all 50 states. In addition, as part of their Graduate Driver Licensing Program, the State of Illinois has published an instructional manual for parents and teens that can help families better prepare lessons and goals for time shared behind the wheel.
Lessons include key steps and practice tips for everything from starting and stopping to parking, to more complex driving and road conditions such as navigating intersections or assessing highway conditions. Advocates recommend parents and teens practice the following steps to master this more-challenging, but frequently used, driving experience:
~ As you enter the highway, scan road and traffic conditions all around you. Look for a space big enough for you to safely merge – one that allows you to accelerate to meet the speed limit without disrupting the flow of traffic.
~ As you are merging and coming up to speed, scan road and traffic conditions on all sides of your vehicle. Pay attention to signage. Always leave yourself a way out, and, if you are planning to take an exit, give yourself plenty of time to get there. Change lanes well in advance of exit ramp. Always use your turn indicators.
~ Never pass on a hill or under conditions where visibility is limited. Don’t speed up when being passed. Give your fellow driver the chance to pass and change lanes. In fact, adjust your speed lane positioning when approaching curves, transitioning from paved to unpaved roads and when you encounter animals, obstructions, unusual road conditions and emergency vehicles.
Helping your teen learn to drive, or to improve his or her driving skills, is the best thing you can do to ensure your child’s safety during National Teen Driver Safety Week. Oct. 17-24. We encourage you to do your part in reducing the risk of serious or fatal New York car accidents involving young drivers.
As a New York City car accident lawyer, Nicholas Rose would like you to know our office is available for a free and confidential consultation if you have been injured in car accident. To schedule an appointment, call us at 1-877-313-ROSE (7673). Representing accident victims throughout the New York City area, including Long Island, Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island.
