Parents of teenagers have a lot to worry about. Now that summer is almost here, they have an added worry. Memorial Day marks the beginning of the 100 Deadliest Days for teenagers on the roads. From then through Labor Day, teens die at a higher rate than what occurs during the rest of the year.
One of the primary risks for this time of year for these drivers is distractions. While it is understandable that parents want teens to have a cellphone with them when they leave home, the parents have to make it perfectly clear that the phone isn’t meant to be used while the teen is behind the wheel.
Another issue that comes up, even with these teens, is impairment. Adults and teens should all remember that impairment isn’t limited only to alcohol. Drivers can also suffer from impairment due to things like allergy medications and prescriptions. Any substance that alters your ability to think or act can have a negative impact on driving abilities.
Teens are inexperienced drivers, which also poses a problem. California has a graduated driver’s license program that includes three tiers for the teen to move through with the final one being a full driver’s license. While this might seem like a pain to the parents, it is an important safety tool. With this program, teens have a chance to gain experience driving while they are being supervised by an experienced driver.
Unfortunately, there are bound to be some crashes involving teen drivers this summer. If you are the victim of one of these, you should seek medical care if necessary. You should also explore your right to seek compensation.
Source: StartTalkingNow.org, “Summer begins 100 deadliest days for teen drivers,” Dan Coon, accessed May 18, 2018
