This is the final installment of our three-part blog post providing information to parents of Georgia teenagers. The period when your teenager starts to drive can be a very anxious time for mom and dad. We have provided information about risks and safety strategies that may keep your teenager safe. If you have not read the prior installments of this series of blog posts, we recommend that you do so before reading this final installment.

How important is the restriction that teenagers not transport other teen passengers who are not siblings?

Parents may want to take this restriction as seriously as rules about not texting and driving. Some parents may not realize how susceptible teen drivers are to driving distractions caused by other teen drivers. When a teen driver transports a single passenger under the age of 21, the risk of a 16 or 17-year-old driver being killed in a collision increases 44 percent per mile driven as opposed to having no passengers according to a AAA study. The risk of a teen driver dying in a crash doubles with two passengers as opposed to no passengers. The risk of fatality quadruples with three or more teen passengers according to the study.

Do cell phones play a significant factor in causing teen car crashes?

One in three teen drivers admit to having texted or emailed from a cell phone while driving during the thirty days prior to being asked according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This prevalence of texting while driving by teenagers is especially troublesome because the risk of collision is four times higher when drivers of all experience levels are considered. The danger likely is even higher for inexperienced teen drivers.

Can parental involvement reduce the risk of a teen driving accident?

Multiple studies have been conducted that suggest that parents can reduce the risk that their kids will be involved in a car crash. Some strategies parent may employ include imposing rules, monitoring kids’ activities, controlling teen access to a vehicle, modeling safe driving practices and installing applications that notify parents of cell phone use while driving. A survey of teens published in Pediatrics journal indicated that kids whose parents imposed rules and monitored their kids’ activities could reduce the risk of their child being involved in a car accident by nearly half. The same study also revealed that kids’ who had easy access to motor vehicles were twice as likely to be involved in a collision.

If you are a parent of a teen driver, we encourage you to review the earlier installments of this blog post. For over 39 years our Atlanta car accident lawyers at Montlick and Associates have been committed to seeking fair compensation for car crash injury victims. Our Atlanta personal injury attorneys are available to provide effective legal representation to those throughout all of Georgia and the Southeast, including all smaller cities and rural areas in the state.

No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 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.