As a parent, handing over the keys to a car to your teen driver can be terrifying. The risks a new driver faces are much higher than drivers over the age of 20. In fact, research shows that teen drivers (age 15-19) are nearly three times more likely to get in a car accident than drivers older than 20.
You’ve read the horrifying statistics, heard the heartbreaking stories of teens who have been seriously injured or killed while driving; but what can you do to help your teen be safe while driving (without locking their car keys away forever).
Here are the top three risks new drivers face, by becoming aware of these risks, you can help your new driver be better prepared to handle the dangers that wait on the road.
Seatbelt Use
Of the teens aged 16-19 who died in a fatal car accident in 2014, 53% of them were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident. By choosing not to wear a seatbelt, a teen driver cut their chances of survival in a motor accident in half. As a parent or friend, you can encourage your teen to remember to wear their seatbelt. Teen drivers with involved parents are twice as likely to wear a seatbelt. So be involved in your teen’s life!