Young drivers are in the spotlight this week as October 16-22 is National Teen Driver Safety Week, a week dedicated to creating a buzz about the safety of novice drivers and reducing teen fatalities on our nation’s roadways.
A new study by AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has shown that teen car accidents in New York and nationwide are pretty common within days of becoming legal to drive independently. And without the supervision of an adult.
Queens car accident attorneys know that the first 30 days are the most critical time for parents and novice drivers. So it is important that mom and dad continue to be involved in their teen’s driving experience; help them make smart decisions as they continue to learn how to handle more dangerous situations. Quitting cold turkey as soon as they obtain an unrestricted license could be something you soon regret.
The teen driving study conducted by AAA followed every move of a group of teen drivers in North Carolina by installing in-vehicle cameras to capture the internal and external environment while teens were driving. For example, video clips were taken with relation to what was going on inside the vehicle like changing tunes on the radio, talking on a cell phone or having a good time with a passenger. Meanwhile traffic, lighting and weather had an impact on driving situations outside the vehicle. The study found that new licensed drivers make three common mistakes early in their driving career — speeding, failing to yield and getting distracted are the three common errors that often lead to accidents involving teen drivers.
Some examples of poor teen driving behaviors caught on tape include:
-A teen brags to passenger about running a red light at night.
-A novice driver in the midst of listening to loud music makes a right turn at a stop sign without stopping or slowing down.
-A young driver slams on his brakes while talking on the cell phone and failing to notice stopped traffic for a school bus ahead.
-A teen drives through a pedestrian crosswalk with a bicyclist about to cross while singing with a passenger in the vehicle.
-A novice driver intentionally speeds over a speed bump that is meant to warn drivers to slow down.
-A teen driver makes a fast turn into a parking light while driving at night in the pouring rain.
These and other unsafe behaviors put young drivers at considerable risk of being involved in accident shortly after claiming independence behind the wheel. Young drivers are 50 percent more likely to be involved in an accident in the first 30 days of driving independently than after having a full year of experience. Almost 60 percent of crashes in the first month of driving were related to speeding, failing to yield to other traffic and driver inattention.
Police-reported accidents in 2009 involved more than 730,000 drivers between the ages of 15-18. Over 2,800 people were killed and approximately 280,000 were injured as a result of crashes involving novice drivers in this age group.
“This research serves as a great reminder for parents to stay involved in the learning process even after the law allows teens to drive without a parent in the car,” said AAA Foundation President and CEO Peter Kissinger. “Continued parent engagement can help teens gain needed driving experience and shape their habits for a lifetime of safe driving.”
In addition to being involved and practicing driving with your teen, AAA Foundation also recommends that parents keep the number of passengers limited in the early stages of driving solo. Limit nighttime driving until your teen gains more experience and feels more comfortable making decisions. Don’t be afraid to set rules for your teen to follow. Examples include setting a curfew, no texting while driving, no driving on icy roads or letting you know when and where they will be taking the vehicle.
Recent studies have indicated that once a teen obtains their license, parents spend as little as 3 percent of time in the vehicle with the young driver. Parents have used the old adage, “practice makes perfect” many times with their children. When it comes to driving experience, practice makes safer.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident involving a teen driver who was distracted, contact the Law Offices of Nicholas Rose, PLLC for a free consultation. We represent victims in Queens, Manhattan or the surrounding areas so call 1-877-313-7673 today.
More Blog Entries:
National Distracted Driving Summit Prepares New York Teens to Speak about the Dangers of Inattention While Driving in Manhattan, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, October 7, 2011.
