Prevent Teen Driving Accidents This Summer
Summer is here and many teenagers who have licenses want to get behind the wheel and drive around with friends. But we all must remember safety first and to help them take precautions.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in Massachusetts and across the country. In 2009, eight teenagers ages 16 to 19 died each day from motor vehicle injuries. When teenagers survive accidents, they may be left to cope with painful injuries that require years of recovery. And others are likely to be seriously injured as well.
The majority of teen car accidents happen within the first year a teen holds a license. The risk increases when teens drive with their friends or when they drive at night. While many associate drowsy driving with truck drivers, teen drivers are also likely to drive with sleep deprivation, increasing the likelihood of car accidents.
Many auto accidents result from driver inexperience. Because of this, teen drivers should stay on familiar roads for a few years. For example, it is probably too much for teenagers to attempt to drive from Worcester to Boston, Cambridge or Quincy during rush hour alone in their first year. Work up to distance. But talk to them about shopping plaza and fast food parking lots. These are frequent stops for teenagers. But parents can help teenagers by visiting stores with them, suggesting safe areas to park and talking to them about the busy hours. By waiting an hour, teens can drive into safer conditions.
Teen driving accidents can also result from recklessness, immaturity, ignoring safety laws, driving drunk and driving while distracted. Distracted driving behavior includes driving to loud music, being overly involved in conversations with friends, eating and drinking, talking on a cell phone and texting while driving.
The reckless behavior includes drag racing and car surfing on the exterior of a motor vehicle. This thrill-seeking behavior often leads to teens falling off the car and suffering head injuries and other injuries. This behavior is dangerous anytime a vehicle is moving, even at low speeds of 5 mph.
Massachusetts has a graduated licensing law for teenagers. Operators must hold a driver’s permit for six months before applying for a Junior Operator’s License at 16 1/2. They graduate up to a full license at 18.
For the first six months of holding a license, junior operators cannot ride with anyone under 18 in the car, except for family members. Teens are not allowed to use cell phones or drive between the hours of 12:30 a.m. to 5 a.m. They face stiff penalties if caught operating under the influence of alcohol.
The state has a strong law, but parents must speak to their teens before and after they receive their license about concentrating on the road, wearing seat belts and using good judgment when driving or riding as a passenger. Because teens are out of school and looking for things to do, summer is the most important time of year to have this discussion.
Resources for Parents
The Boston personal injury lawyers at Breakstone, White & Gluck have compiled a few resources to help parents talk to teenagers about avoiding car accidents:
Teen Safety Materials from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
Massachusetts Junior Operator Law
The Massachusetts personal injury lawyers at Breakstone, White & Gluck are experts at handling cases involving roadway accidents, including car accidents, truck accidents and bus accidents. We bring over 100 years combined experience to clients. We serve clients throughout Massachusetts, including Greater Boston, Cambridge and Quincy. We also serve clients in the Lowell, Framingham and Worcester regions.
If you have been injured in a Massachusetts car accident, contact us today at 617-723-7676 or use our contact form.