Car Accidents

Teenagers have a high rate of deaths caused by motor vehicle accidents. Most of these deaths involve the passengers, not the driver. The reason these accidents are happening is because of inexperienced and reckless driving. It is important to drive carefully, to always drive under the speed limit and to drive defensively. There are many distractions on the road and it is important to pay attention to what is going on outside the car as opposed to what is happening inside the car.

What Causes Car Accidents?

Things such as weather, speeding, drinking, drug use and road rage can contribute to automobile accidents. Teens are inexperienced and, therefore, may make some mistakes and not react correctly to things that may happen to them on the road. The following is a list of the major causes of automobile accidents when teens are driving:

• Driver error.
• Speeding.
• Passengers distraction.
• Alcohol.
• Night driving.
• Not wearing a seat belt.

Safety Basics

It is possible to learn proper techniques and how to be safer on the road. Many schools and local businesses offer driver education classes. Below are some key safety basics:

• Always Wear a seat belt.
• Follow the speed limit.
• Don′t drink and drive.
• Be extra careful at night and in bad weather.
• Stay calm, do not give in to road rage.
• Choose a safe, sensible vehicle..
• Test drive a car before you buy it and ask for the car′s record and inspection
• Stock your car for emergencies

Driving Do's and Don′ts

• Make sure your windshield is clean. At sunrise and sunset, light reflecting off a dirty windshield can momentarily blind you.
• Never try to pack in more passengers than there are seatbelts in the car.
• Make sure your car has gas. Don′t ride around with the gauge on empty because you don′t want to become stranded.
• Obey all speed limits for both maximum and minimum speeds.
• Don′t run red lights or stop signs.
• Come to a complete stop at lights or stop signs.
• Use your turn signal to indicate that you want to turn or change lanes. Turn it on to give the cars behind you enough time to react before you make your move. Also, make sure the signal is off once you′re done.
• When a light turns green, make sure the intersection has cleared before you go.
• Obey curfews and leave yourself plenty of time to reach your destination.
• Don′t blast the radio. You might miss a siren or a horn that could warn you of possible trouble.
• Don′t drink and drive, and don′t ride with anyone who has been drinking.
• Don′t take drugs and drive, and don′t ride with anyone who has been using drugs. Even some over-the-counter drugs can make you drowsy, so check the label for warnings.
• Don′t drive with small children or even small teenage friends in the front seat of a car that has a passenger-side air bag. They should be buckled up in the back seat instead. Children and small people can be hurt if the air bags deploy, even in collisions at slow speeds. (It′s actually safer not to drive with friends and kids in the car when you′re learning to drive because they can distract you.)
• Don′t talk on your cell phone, put on makeup, comb your hair, or eat while driving. If you need to make a call, pull off the road to a safe spot and park.
• Always pull over (to the right side of the road) if a police officer stops you.
• Don′t allow friends or other uninsured drivers to drive your car.
• If you feel tired or sleepy, pull off the road and call your parents or another adult to help you.
• Don′t drive like you own the road - drive like you own the car.

Adapted from
http://www.teenshealth.com/teen/safety/safebasics/driving_safety.html