According to the Santa Clara Police Department, dangerous summer is a time of year for teen drivers. This is because with the lack of school, young people have more free time to relax and enjoy the warm weather with their friends. However, the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is traditionally the deadliest on the road, especially for young people.
Authorities argue that inexperience and immaturity are the main causes of increased risk when teens drive.
And it is that inexperienced eyes are more likely to underestimate dangerous situations on the road, coupled with speeding. Tailgating other vehicles and reckless driving are also more likely among teens.
When teens have other passengers in their age range in their vehicle, the likelihood of a crash increases because there are more distractions, and the risk grows with each additional passenger.
Thus, distracted driving is becoming a national epidemic, coupled with the fact that young drivers have the lowest rate of seat belt use compared to all other age groups.
Given this, the authorities recommend taking preventive measures to reduce car accidents and with it, the deaths of adolescents. Parents should take an active role in training their teens to drive by setting safe standards., and take advantage of opportunities like driving to the store, the post office, or running errands to get your teens more time behind the wheel safely.
It is very important not to rush!, say the experts, while they recommend adding additional time for new drivers to reach their destination.
In turn, teens need to be held accountable for using their vehicle's turn signals, making complete stops, and checking blind spots, as well as making sure distractions are as limited as possible, especially cell phones.
Drivers under the age of 18 may not use electronic communication devices while driving; this includes cell phones for talking or texting, even in hands-free mode.
In addition to this, it is necessary to maintain a distance of three to four seconds between the vehicle you are driving and the car in front of you; be aware of your surroundings, particularly motorcycles, cyclists, pedestrians, and people working in construction zones; and not allowing teens to drive when they are tired, regardless of the time of day or night.
For the first 12 months after a teen gets their license, they may not drive between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., with a few exceptions – see California Driver's Manual?.
It should be noted that teens may not transport passengers under the age of 20 unless accompanied by a California licensed driver age 25 or older.
Teach your teen the basics of vehicle maintenance and what to do if they experience mechanical problems while driving. I would add to this list, teaching teens to be tolerant and learn not to react to aggressive drivers.
If you get the chance, take your teen to a Go-Kart track or take a fast-driving course, like the ones offered by VARA ?Vintage Auto Racing Association?, once a year, I believe that this could give him the ability to control the vehicle in dangerous situations, as well as teach him that there are special and safe places to drive fast.
Talk to your kids about how ridiculous and dangerous it is to speed-drive in front of crowds just for the sake of attention. Constantly remind them of the dangers mentioned here.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles offers a training guide for parents and teens to help navigate the complicated conversation about driver safety and responsibility.
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