Passing a driving test can be one of the most exciting and rewarding times for a teenager. However, operating a motor vehicle does not come without its risks and it is important that young drivers are aware of these risks and how to avoid them.

January is National Teen Driving Awareness month and is a perfect time to sit down with your new drivers and discuss with them teen driving statistics as well as safety tips for them to be as safe as possible on the road.

Here are statistics to share with them to emphasize how prominent teen driving accidents are:

• Car accidents are the leading cause of death among teenagers
• 6 teenagers lose their lives in a car accident every day
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that new drivers are 3x more likely to be involved in a car accident per mile driven

A vast majority of accidents among new drivers are caused from lack of experience on the road. However, that does not mean every new driver is going to be in an accident. In fact, some car accidents are entirely avoidable. Here are safety tips for teen drivers to remember:

• Do not drive distracted – 58% of teens involved in crashes are distracted. Distracted driving is entirely preventable and abstaining from doing so could prevent an accident from occurring. Avoid using your cellphone, eating, changing the radio station, and anything else that takes your focus off the task of driving.
• Wear a seat belt – 66% of teen passengers who die in a crash are not wearing a seat belt. Ensuring you and all your passengers have their seat belts on is a simple task that could save the lives of several people.
• Maintain a safe following distance – allowing space between you and the car ahead of you gives you an opportunity to come to a complete stop, preventing a crash from occurring.
• Do not speed – traveling at a high rate of speed lessens the amount of control you have of a vehicle and can lead to high impact crashes which often result in serious injury.

Discussing these statistics as well as safety tips with your teens can help reduce the number of accidents that occur each day.

If you or a loved one are injured in any type of motor vehicle accident that not your fault, the leading North Carolina Motor Vehicle Accident lawyers at Henson Fuerst are here to help. Call us today at 919-781-1107 for a FREE, confidential consultation. When you call, you will speak with an experienced Raleigh Car Accident attorney for free.

At Henson Fuerst, you will never pay an attorney’s fee up front, and we don’t get paid until we recover for you.

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