According to the Center for Injury Prevention and Control, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among U.S. teens, accounting for more than one in three deaths in this age group. Most teen accidents can be easily avoided. Insurance experts at CURE Auto Insurance provides the following list of tips for teens and parents to ensure teens stay safe behind the wheel.
Safe Driving Tips for Teens:
1. Put your cell phone away. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted or inattentive driver, and more than half a million were injured. Statistics show that talking on the phone or texting while driving is just as dangerous as driving drunk. Next time you’re tempted to use your phone in your car, ask a passenger to send a text for you or pull off to the side of the road if it is urgent.2. Don’t allow too many friends in your car. Getting your license is an exciting time and teens are always ready to drive their friends around. However, according to the NHTSA teens are 15% more likely to get into an accident with more than two friends in the car than if they were alone. Driver distraction is a huge issue for new drivers, so remember to stay focused and minimize distractions in your vehicle.
Citizens United Reciprocal Exchange, (CURE) is a not-for-profit reciprocal exchange headquartered in Princeton, N.J. Founded in 1990 by New Jersey Insurance Commissioner James J. Sheeran and award-winning insurance expert, Dr. Lena Chang.