Summer has long been the most dangerous time for teen drivers in Georgia, as elsewhere in the U.S., and the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is even known as the “100 deadliest days.” According to AAA, there have been over 8,300 deaths arising from teen driving crashes during this period from 2008 to 2018. This comes to more than seven fatalities for each day of summer.
Parents should be aware of the ways in which teen drivers can become unsafe on the road and then have a talk with their own teens about them. A good reference point would be a recent AAA Traffic Culture Safety Index, where 72% of the respondents between the ages of 16 and 18 admitted to negligent behavior behind the wheel. For instance, 47% go 10 mph over the speed limit in residential areas, 32% run red lights and 35% text and drive.
Parents could speak about the dangers of drowsy driving, speeding, aggressive driving and impaired driving, too. Driving rules could be gathered into a parent-teen driving agreement. Parents should back up their advice, though, by their own good example. In addition, AAA recommends that parents coach their teens for at least 50 hours’ worth of practice driving sessions before the approach of summer.
Teens who cause an MVA through their own fault cannot be excused on the grounds of inexperience as every driver has a responsibility to keep all road users safe. Those who were injured through another’s negligence may want to see what their chances are of being compensated for their injuries. This is where a lawyer could come in and explain things during a case assessment. The lawyer may do much more, though, such as gather evidence against the defendant and negotiate for a settlement.
