Tips to Help Teen Drivers Avoid Crashes this School Year

School is now in session for the year, and for many teen drivers, this is the first year they will be commuting from home to school. Teens who obtained their driver's license during the summer will now be driving themselves and possibly friends or younger siblings to and from class. While your teen is likely reveling in this newfound freedom, it is crucial that you take some important steps, among others, to lessen the likelihood that they will be involved in an accident.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that teen drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 are involved in more accidents than any other age group, despite the fact that teens account for just 14 percent of the population.

Here are a few steps, among others, parents can take to prevent their teens from being involved in an accident:

1. Contract with your teen: The National Safety Council offers a driver contract that you and your teen driver can fill out online. You can also draft your own agreement or search the web for a printable option. Consider requiring rules for wearing a seat belt, night driving, curfews, access to the car and behaviors that will not be tolerated. Set specific penalties for violation of any of the rules set out in the contract and consider rewarding positive behaviors.
2. Limit passengers: Studies show that having other teenagers in the vehicle with a new driver can create considerable distraction. Parents would be wise to not allow new teen drivers to bring passengers and, when they are ready, slowly introduce passengers that you know are safe options, such as relatives.
3. Let them drive you: Whenever the opportunity arises, allow your teen to drive you. This gives you a chance to see how they are driving and provide feedback. Doing so will also give them safe practice with driving a passenger.
4. Set a good example: Your teen will look to you as his or her good driver model. As such, always wear your seat belt, drive in a calm and undistracted manner, obey the speed limit and follow traffic signals. Your teen will pick up on these important behaviors and be a better driver because of it.
5. Instruct your teen as to school zone safety: If your teen will be driving him or herself to school, make sure her or she understands the importance of slowing down in school zones, following the school's protocol for arrival and/or departure and watch carefully for younger children.

Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law: Put Our Over 39 Years of Experience to Work on Your Case!

If your son or daughter has been injured in a car accident because of another person or party, the Georgia Auto Accident Attorneys at Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, offer the exceptional representation you need to obtain the best possible outcome on your case. Our firm has over 39 years of experience in the field of personal injury law and we accept cases across Georgia and in the Southeast. The sooner you act after your accident, the greater your chances of obtaining a full recovery for your injuries. As such, do not delay in seeking legal assistance.

Call Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law, 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat. Also, check out our website to learn more about our many community service initiatives geared towards keeping Georgia families safe!