It is no secret that parenting comes with its fair share of stress. If your child is about to start driving, then you may be spending sleepless nights worrying about his or her safety.
According to Teen Driver Source, you have good reason to be concerned. In 2013, American teens were involved in 963,000 reported accidents. These crashes resulted in 383,000 injuries.
There are steps that your child can take to minimize his or her risk of becoming a statistic, but nobody can control the actions of other drivers. If you or your child was injured in a crash that another motorist caused, contact Morris Bart.
A Montgomery car accident attorney can evaluate your accident, talk to witnesses and guide you through the claims process. You may be entitled to compensation to pay for medical bills, time off work and other damages.
Here are five tips that can keep your teen safe behind the wheel:
Always Wear a Seatbelt
Wearing a seatbelt at all times is the most important rule to enforce. Seatbelts can save your child’s life by preventing head injuries and ejections. They also lower the risk of injury; in fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, seatbelts reduce the risk of serious accident injuries and fatalities by half. Your teen should not start the engine until he or she has secured the seatbelt, and requested all passengers to do the same.
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Obey Speed Limits
Excess speed is one of the leading causes of teen car accidents. Your child should always obey the speed limits.
Many teens experience peer pressure when it comes to driving fast. Make sure your child is confident enough to say “no” when friends encourage him or her to break traffic laws.
Use the Head Rest
The vehicle’s head rest can minimize whiplash and other neck injuries. Make sure your child adjusts the head rest to the correct height each time he or she gets in the car. It should sit just behind his or her head, and not the neck.
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Hold the Steering Wheel at 3 and 9
According to TeenDriving.com, drivers should hold the steering wheel at 3 and 9 o’clock, or slightly lower. This will allow the driver to hold the wheel comfortably and turn when necessary, and it will keep his or her hands and fingers safe if the airbag deploys.
Avoid Distractions
Cell phones are the most common and dangerous distractions for all drivers. Encourage your child to get into the habit of locking the phone in the trunk or glove box to avoid the temptation to text or talk behind the wheel.
Loud music and passengers are also dangerous distractions. You should consider placing restrictions on these, as well.
If you were injured due to someone else’s negligence, contact a Montgomery auto accident attorney from Morris Bart. Call 800-537-8185 to schedule a consultation.
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