Good Driving Habits in NYC Start with Teens
Making the roads in New York City safer in the future depends on the teens of today developing good driving habits. In New York, automobile accidents are the leading cause of unintentional death for teens ages 16 to 17. This is a trend that can be altered if the teens of today take the time to develop the good driving habits they need to stay safe and alive.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is one of the top causes of teen driving accidents in New York City. The primary distraction is texting or talking on a smartphone, but teens who engage in conversations with their passengers. Teens need to understand the dangers of distracted driving and learn to be more disciplined on the roads. The traffic laws must always be followed.
Driving While Impaired
The teenage years are a time when some people start experimenting with alcohol and drugs. Impaired teen drivers are especially dangerous because they lack the driving experience necessary to safely operate a vehicle while they are impaired. Teens need to be taught from an early age that it is better to get a ride home when impaired than to get behind the wheel and possibly cause an accident.
Use of Safety Belts
As new drivers, teens lack the kind of experience necessary to appreciate how safety belts can prevent injuries in an accident. At their early stage of driving development, teens must take the initiative and get into the habit of wearing safety belts whenever they are driving. The use of safety belts is required by law in New York State, and it is also a good way to prevent a teen from getting a traumatic brain injury in a car accident.
Speeding
When a teenager gets licensed and is behind the wheel, he or she may try to exceed the speed limit. Speed limits were created to keep everyone from car drivers to pedestrians safe. As teens are learning to drive, their parents need to emphasize the importance of obeying the speed limit and avoiding a potential tragedy.
If your teen is ever involved in a car accident in New York City, we encourage you to give our car accident lawyers at William Mattar a call. You can also call one of our New York City car accident lawyers if you or your teen ever has a question about developing good driving habits at a young age.