Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death among teenagers in the United States. The good news? With the right guidance and awareness, your teen driver can become safer behind the wheel. Educate them about the eight critical danger zones identified by the CDC—each representing a major factor contributing to teen car accidents.
The crash risk for a teen driver is highest in the first year they have their license, especially the first several months. A teen’s inexperience may mean they are not as familiar with the rules of the road, may not understand or pay attention to blind spots, and may misjudge hazardous situations.
Safety Tip: Encourage your teen to log as many hours as possible of supervised driving. Practice on various road types, during different times of day, and in diverse weather conditions to build confidence and skill.
The crash risk goes up when teens drive with other teens or young adults in the car, and studies show that a teen’s chances of getting into an accident increase with each additional teen passenger in the car.
Safety Tip: Limit passengers. Ideally, your teen should avoid driving with other teens for at least six months after getting their license.
Driving after dark poses a greater risk for teens. In fact, teen drivers are three times more likely than adults to be involved in fatal crashes at night. In 2020, 44% of teen crash deaths occurred between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., and half happened over the weekend.
Safety Tip: Set a curfew. Keep your teen off the road after 9 or 10 p.m. during the first six months of driving. Practice nighttime driving with an experienced adult.
Teen drivers do not always consistently wear a seat belt, but this is the simplest and easiest way to prevent car crash injuries and death. Teens should wear seat belts whether they are the driver or passenger.
Safety Tip: Seat belts save lives, so whether driving or riding, make seat belt use non-negotiable for your teens. Always buckle up!
Distractions of all kinds—like texting, adjusting the radio, eating, or using GPS—can increase your teen’s risk of being in a crash and ultimately be deadly. Cell phones are the top culprit for driver inattention. Turn the phone off and put it out of reach while driving.
Safety Tip: Have your teen silence and stow their phone while driving. Consider apps that block notifications during trips.
Danger Zone #6– Drowsy DrivingFatigue impairs reaction time and decision-making. Teens are typically most tired and at risk when driving in the early morning or late night hours.
Safety Tip: Ensure your teen gets adequate sleep and avoids driving when tired. Drowsy driving accounts for nearly half of fatigue-related crashes among young drivers.
Research shows that teens lack the experience, judgment, and maturity to assess risky situations. Speeding, tailgating, and aggressive maneuvers are common among inexperienced drivers. Make sure teen drivers know to follow the speed limit and to adjust speed to match road, traffic, and weather conditions, and maintain enough space behind the vehicle ahead to avoid a crash in case of a sudden stop.
Safety Tip: Reinforce the importance of obeying speed limits, adjusting for road conditions, and maintaining safe following distances.
Even small amounts of alcohol or drugs can impair a teen’s ability to drive safely and increase the crash risk among teen drivers. They have a higher risk of being involved in a crash than older drivers at the same blood alcohol concentration (BAC)
Safety Tip: Talk openly about the dangers of impaired driving—including alcohol, marijuana, prescription drugs, and over-the-counter medications. Make sure your teen knows to never get behind the wheel under the influence.
Source: IIHS HLDI
If your teen driver has been seriously injured in a car accident, you don’t have to navigate the aftermath alone. The Kansas City-based law firm of Nash & Franciskato is here to help.
Let us help you take the first step toward justice and recovery. Call (877) 284-6600 today for a free, no-obligation case review. One of our experienced legal professionals will speak with you directly, listen to your concerns, and provide clear guidance on your
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Find related blog articles: Teen Drivers, Automobile Accidents or Personal Injury
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on November 8, 2023. It was reviewed on October 23, 2024, for content and accuracy, and updated.
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