Safe
driving is everyone's responsibility. Consider that over half of all motor vehicle
accidents could be avoided if drivers would just make intelligent driving decisions.
Teenagers are most at risk because they may not have the experience or maturity
to be able to consider the consequences of their actions. It's critical that good
driving habits are formed early...they can last you a lifetime!
Teens
and their parents should take a few moments to review the following information.
Hopefully, this will get you thinking about things you can do to make your driving
as safe as possible.
Statistics
that will make you think twice
- Automobile
accidents are the number one killer of our nation's youth.
- Driver's
under the age of 20 were involved in 13% of all accidents, yet they account for
only 5% of all drivers.
- 5,000
teenagers die each year form auto accidents.
- Alcohol
is responsible for more than half of all teen motor vehicle deaths.
- 25%
of all teen accidents involve speeding.
- Half
of all teenage traffic fatalities occur between 6:00 p.m. Friday and 3:00 a.m.
Sunday.
- In one year,
drivers 19 and under were involved in close to 3 million motor vehicle accidents.
- The
price of bad decision can include injury to yourself or others, loss of life,
loss of life style or loss of personal freedom.
Ways
to Prevent Accidents
While
no one has full control over the circumstances surrounding a motor vehicle accident,
there are things that can be done to reduce your chances of being the cause or
being involved in one. Here are some smart decisions you can make while you're
behind the wheel:
- Drive
defensively. If you assume that other drivers are not as skilled and thoughtful
as you are, you will instinctively become more careful and cautious when on the
road.
- Try not to speed.
When you speed, you have less time to react, less time to make the right decision.
- Never
drink and drive. Alcohol can seriously impair your decision-making skills and
reaction time.
- Take the
keys away form friends who have been drinking.
- Give
friends rides home if they have been drinking.
Ways
to Keep Insurance Premiums for Teens as Low as Possible
A
number of factors are taken into consideration when insurance companies set rates
for automobile policies. Among those factors are the type of vehicle and the age,
gender and driving record of the insured. Companies pay close attention to the
number of accidents a driver has had and the traffic tickets (from speeding, running
a stop sign, etc.) received.
In
their view, past performances serve as a meter for future behavior--therefore,
these drivers pose a higher risk.
While
you have no control over your age or gender, you can influence your driving record
by forming and maintaining good driving habits. Here are some other ways you might
be able to save on premiums:
- Are
you a good student, B average or better? Most companies offer discounts for these
students.
- Complete a
driver's training course. Teens who take Driver's Ed are considered safer drivers
than the average teen.
- The
longer you drive, the more experienced you become.
