WHO KNEW? NOW, WHAT TO DO.
June, July and August are not only the hottest months in Tampa, but according to recent studies, also the most dangerous for teenage drivers. Teens and driving can be a deadly mix any time of the year. In 2017, 2,364 teens in the United States aged 16-19 were killed due to auto accident related injuries and about 300,000 were treated in emergency rooms. That means every day of the year, 6 teens die due to motor vehicle accidents and hundreds more are injured enough to have to go to the ER for treatment. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of deaths among teens.
Why are summer months so dangerous for teenage drivers? One reason is that during the summer, teens spend more recreational time behind the wheel. When teen drivers take recreational drives, they tend to be less familiar with the areas and their potential for unique hazards. Unfamiliar roads can significantly increase accident risk. Also, having more friends in the car can lead to greater distractions.
Also, during the summer, teens have less daily interaction with many of their friends. That can lead them to use their cell phones more, which includes texting while driving. That’s a dangerous activity for all drivers, but especially teens, given that they have less experience behind the wheel.
Teens also engage in more fun, recreational activities during the summer months. That can lead to more reckless driving as emotions run high, but also to more drinking of alcohol or use of recreational drugs.
What’s a parent to do? Making your teen more aware of these dangers is a good start. Perhaps develop a summer driving plan with your teen. Restrict the number of passengers allowed in a car. Let your teenager know that if they feel uncomfortable driving for any reason to or from a party that they can count on you to be available to pick them up. Or perhaps encourage your teen to use ride sharing services for evening activities.
If you feel it’s necessary, there are several apps that allow you to monitor your teens driving. DriveScribe alerts drivers when they commit an action that breaks the law of the road in a specific area. SafeDriver monitors location and driving speeds, letting parents know if their teen driver is driving safely. DriveSafely reads text messages aloud. Texecution locks the phone while the vehicle is moving above a certain speed.
It might help to talk with your teen about being careful who they ride with, watching out for friends with poor driving skills. Explaining to your teen the reason for your concern may help encourage them to make good decisions.
Teens often think they are invincible. The teen driving fatality and injury statistics throughout the year, but especially in the summer months, prove otherwise.