Keeping Your Teenagers Safe on the Road

Model Good Behavior—from the Start 

If you’ve got a teen who’s about to get his or her license, you’re probably cringing at the thought of all the trouble they could get into on the road. From road rage, to texting while driving, to driving while eating or applying make-up, etc. While kids might not listen to everything—or anything, for that matter—that we say, they are watching what we do. If you’re constantly driving distracted, swearing, pulling over to engage in fist fights, driving recklessly, and engaging in other bad behaviors while on the road, your kid is watching. Model good behaviors while on the road—ideally from the start. The best time to begin modeling good driving behaviors while your kids are in the car is on the way home from the hospital; the second-best time is today. If you have a kid who’s about to hit the road, it’s time to cut down on the aggressive driving, hand gestures, distracted driving, and any other behavior that you wouldn’t want your child to engage in.

Yes, They Need Insurance 

These days, we’re seeing a marked decrease in teenagers who are desperate to get their driver’s license. While parents may be distressed over their teenager’s lack of independence, they can at least rejoice in saving a lot of money on car insurance—right? Well, not necessarily. If you have a teenager who’s able to drive, they need to have a license and car insurance if they’re going to drive at all. A lot of people will send their unlicensed and/or uninsured teenager to the store to go get something—after all, the store is right down the road, can’t they just drive down and grab something real quick? No, not if they don’t have a driver’s license or car insurance. All motorists need to have a driver’s license and car insurance before getting behind the wheel. If your teenager drives your car, even if it’s only the occasional trip to the neighborhood grocery store, they need to have a driver’s license and car insurance. 

Teach Them What to Do in the Event of an Accident 

Your child may not know what they’re supposed to do in the event of an accident. A lot of teenagers may not be aware that, for example, if they admit they were at fault in an accident, it can be used against them later on. This may be true even in cases where the teenager wasn’t actually at fault. Furthermore, teenagers—and many adults, actually—often don’t understand the implications involved in saying, “I’m not injured” at the scene of an accident. If you are in an accident, you should never state that you aren’t injured because you don’t necessarily know whether or not you’re injured. Many injuries take days to become apparent. If you say you aren’t injured at the scene of an accident, it may be used against you later on, even if you were genuinely injured in the accident. Lastly, teach your teenagers that it’s extremely important that they remain at the scene of the accident.  

Know the Laws about Passengers 

Many states have different laws about when a driver is allowed to have passengers in the car. For example, some states do not allow new drivers to have any passengers for the first six months. If you have laws like this in your state, make sure that your child is aware of these laws. If your child is under the age of majority, understand that you could be exposed to liability if your child causes a car crash with a passenger in their car while the law says they weren’t allowed to have any passengers. Make sure that your child understands that they’re not allowed to have passengers if the laws in your state forbid it. If you cannot trust your child to follow the rules, that may be a sign to wait until the probation period has passed before allowing them to use the car unsupervised. 

Teach Your Kids about Cars 

Your children don’t need to be mechanics who are capable of restoring vintage cars, complete with all the bells, whistles, and customizations. However, they ought to be aware of a couple of things that may indicate a problem with the car. For example, if your teenager hears grinding noises every time they apply the brakes, that may indicate a problem with the brakes. Vibrating sensations and funny smells can also indicate problems with the car. The smell of sulfur, for instance, may indicate a problem with the car’s battery.  

When You Need Legal Advice 

If your teenager has sustained injury in a car crash due to the negligence of another motorist, Moxie Law Group is here for you. Our car accident attorneys are dedicated to guiding you through the personal injury claims process and getting you the compensation you deserve. If you’ve been injured, contact Moxie Law Group today for a free consultation.