The Tragedy of Teen Driving Accidents: What Can Parents Do?

The teen years are supposed to be about fun and possibilities: graduating high school, choosing a college, dating, rebelling against parents a little… all in preparation for grown-up life. Unfortunately, 6,000 teens a year don't get to experience grown-up life because they die in car accidents. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), car wrecks are the leading cause of death for teenagers between the fifteen and nineteen.The death of a teen is a tragedy. In 2009, 29,485 Florida car crashes involved teenagers. More than 19,000 teens were injured and 153 died. The car crash rate for teens is the highest among all drivers.Why are car crashes so deadly for teens? There are several reasons: Inexperience: Teens lack the experience to make good driving decisions and to react in dangerous or unexpected situations.Bravado: Teens are more likely than adults to engage in risky behavior. They like to show off to their friends and believe that they will not get hurt.Speeding: In a survey, the majority of teens admitted to regularly driving ten miles over the speed limit. In fatal car crashes involving teenage drivers, 39 percent of male drivers and 24 percent of female drivers were speeding.Dangerous driving behaviors: Thirty-six percent of teen boys and forty-eight percent of teen girl admit to driving aggressively.Racing: Teenage boys are more susceptible to street racing, but that does not mean that teen girls are not at risk when they attend these races. Or worse, when they ride along.Drug and alcohol use: Underage drinking is a factor in 31 percent of teenage driving deaths. Twenty-five percent of teen drivers involved in accidents have blood alcohol concentrations of .08 or more.Seat belts: Only 77 percent of teens use a seatbelt regularly. This is the lowest rate of seatbelt use for any age group. More than 40 percent of teens who die in accidents are not wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.Peer pressure: Even responsible teens are likely to engage in unsafe behavior when pressured by their friends. Teenage passengers are unlikely to tell a teenage driver if they are concerned about safety. In fact, many teens say they would rather risk their lives by riding with an intoxicated driver than risk social rejection.Distractions: Most teenagers will readily cop to texting or talking on their cell phone while driving. However, cell phones aren't the only teen driving distraction. Teenagers can also distracted by having friends in the car. A teenager with three passengers faces nearly three times the risk of a fatal wreck as a teen driving alone.Vehicle: Teens think affordability, not safety when purchasing cars. These cheaper and dated vehicles do not contain much of the modern safety features.Parents can help prevent teenage car accidents. Ride with your teen and look out for their bad driving habits. Make sure their car has working seat belts and that your child always buckles up. Set limits on the amount of friends that can ride with your child. Speak openly to your teens about the real risks of driving under the influence, and make sure your teen knows that you will always come and pick them up if they need a ride, no questions asked.Losing a child to a car accident is devastating. Monetary compensation can never make up for that loss, but it can help you get accountability. If your teenager has been seriously injured or killed in a car crash, consider speaking with a wrongful death attorney in West Palm Beach or where ever the accident occurred. Nothing can bring your child back, but getting accountability is a step in the right direction.