Getting a driver’s license is a highly anticipated milestone for many teens and a major source of anxiety for parents. Unfortunately, many parents’ fears about their teens getting behind the wheel are warranted, as statistics show that nearly one out of every four teens will be involved in a car accident within six months of receiving their license. Despite being granted a license, many teen drivers are still developing their driving skills during their first years of driving and are much more likely to make mistakes – mistakes which can have serious ramifications in the event of an accident. Fortunately, being aware of these errors can help keep your teen safe and reduce their chances of being involved in a crash. Some common teen driving mistakes to avoid include:
- Speeding: Inexperienced drivers often have a much tougher time judging their speed and gauging how much distance they will need to stop. Additionally, driving fast can reduce the amount of time a teen has to react to hazards on the roads – a skill that is usually far less attune than that of more experienced drivers.
- Driving while distracted: Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of death in teens. Whether it involves talking on a cell phone, texting, eating, or even messing with a car’s navigation system while driving, distractions behind the wheel can cause teens to miss seeing or reacting to dangerous situations on the roadway, leading to collisions. In fact, in the average time it takes to read and respond to a text message, your vehicle can potentially travel the length of several football fields!
- Taking risks: Driving a car is risky enough, let alone when a driver chooses to take unnecessary risks such as making sudden lane changes without signaling or accelerating through yellow lights. Other risky choices commonly made by teens include driving while under the influence of alcohol, failing to check blind spots, or driving while distracted.
- Tailgating: Teens frequently overestimate their ability to stop their vehicles in time and follow too closely behind other vehicles, leading to rear-end accidents. It is important for teen drivers to maintain adequate space between their vehicle and the vehicle in front of them, especially at higher speeds.
- Over correcting: Dangerous situations may sometimes require drivers to quickly swerve in one direction or make sudden corrections to avoid a collision. In many cases, teen drivers tend to overreact in these situations and lose control. While emergency handling skills can only develop with time and practice, anticipating road hazards can go a long way to help keep teens out of these types of situations.
For more tips on how you can keep your teen driver safe, or if you have been injured in a collision caused by a teen driver’s negligence, contact Williams DeClark Tuschman Co., L.P.A. today. With more than five decade’s worth of combined legal experience, our team has what it takes to guard your rights and maximize your financial recovery. Speak with a Toledo personal injury attorney from our firm today – dial (419) 719-5195.