Parents across Texas are no doubt concerned with the safety of their teens when they’re on the road. Newly licensed and prone to reckless behavior, teens always run a high risk for accidents. For every mile traveled, drivers aged 16 to 17 are three times more prone to be in a fatal crash than adults.
At no time is this danger more pronounced than during the “100 deadliest days” that span from Memorial Day to Labor Day. More than 8,300 people died in teen driving crashes in the 100 deadliest days between 2008 and 2018.
To prepare their teens for summer, parents should first warn them about unsafe driving. To ensure that their advice sinks in, parents must set forth a good example. They could also instruct their teens while in-vehicle. AAA recommends having at least 50 hours’ worth of these practice driving sessions.
Parents must be aware of the many possible forms of negligent driving. AAA, in its recent Traffic Safety Culture Index, found that 72% of 16- to 18-year-old respondents had driven recklessly in the past 30 days. Speeding was big with 47% admitting to going at least 10 miles over the speed limit in residential areas. Texting (35%), red-light running (32%) and aggressive driving (31%) were also common.
Even when well-instructed, some teens will still choose to drive in a negligent manner. Should they cause an accident because of poor choices, an injured victim may file a personal injury claim. For their part, a victim may want to discuss the filing process with a lawyer because it can be complicated. The lawyer might hire investigators to help in gathering proof before heading off to negotiations. Hopefully, the lawyer can achieve a reasonable settlement out of court.
