As teen drivers continue to cause a significant amount of car accidents each year, National Teen Driving Safety Week was initiated to help teens and their parents learn safe driving practices and procedures. Beginning October 19th and ending on the 25th, National Teen Driving Safety Week provides the perfect opportunity for teens and their parents to discuss the responsibilities of being a new driver and how to make the safest driving decisions.
From 2012 to 2014, teen drivers between the ages of 15 and 19 years were involved in roughly 15 percent of all car accidents. Of those motor vehicle accidents, a teen driver was at fault 73 percent of the time an overwhelmingly high statistic, especially if you take into consideration these car crashes resulted in 282 fatalities and 41,311 injuries. In fact, car accidents are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States.
While factors involved in car accidents vary, speeding contributed to almost 60 percent of all car accidents caused by teens. Another 20 percent of teen-related car crashes were caused by failure to yield, running a red light, or running a stop sign.
Top State officials in Ohio are reminding parents of teen drivers to establish clear rules and expectations for their teen, with the primary focus being on safety and abiding by all driving rules and regulations.
Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor, who also serves as Director of the Ohio Department of Insurance, and John Born, Director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, which includes the Ohio State Highway Patrol, said research shows parents who set rules for their teenage drivers cut the risk their teen will be in a car accident by one half.
To help establish safe driving rules for your teen, such as obeying the speed limit, wearing a seat belt, and not texting while driving, visit www.insureuonline.org/teen_driver_certificate.htm and create a safe driving contract for your teen driver.
If your teen driver has sustained injuries from a car accident that may not have been their fault, contact the experienced auto accident lawyers at O’Connor, Acciani & Levy today. Our injury lawyers work hard to ensure our clients get the compensation they deserve.