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Parents Need to Set Guidelines, Discuss Dangers with Teen Drivers
The NHTSA has shown that car accidents are the number one cause of teen deaths, stemming from inexperience, risky behaviors, cell phone use and more.
January 28, 2010 /Parenting PR News/ -- Parents Need to Set Guidelines, Discuss Dangers with Teen Drivers
Article provided by The Law Offices of Barry Levinson
Visit us at www.personalinjuryaccidentcenter.com
Auto Accidents Leading Cause of Teen Deaths
Research by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) has shown that car accidents are the number one cause of teen deaths, accounting for 35% of fatalities among 16-18 year olds. Teens also have the highest accident rates of any drivers.
Teen drivers' inexperience and immaturity are the main reasons why young drivers are involved in more auto accidents than other drivers. Teen drivers are more likely to be distracted by:
-Cell phones
-Texting
-Talking with friends in the car
-Loud music
Teen drivers also are more likely to engage in risky behaviors that could result in a car accident, like speeding, following other cars at unsafe distances, drinking and driving and not wearing seatbelts. Younger, less experienced drivers are also more likely to make simple errors in judgment that may lead to an accident, like over-correcting.
What Can Parents Do to Protect their Children?
The state of Nevada imposes certain restrictions on the driving privileges of young drivers once they receive their driver's licenses, including:
- Passenger restriction: No passengers under 18 years of age in the vehicle for the first six months after receiving the driver's license (immediate family members excluded)
- Curfew: No driving between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. for any driver under 18 years of age (with an exception for school activities and employment)
Parents, however, should not rely on only these two rules to keep their teen drivers safe. Instead, parents should create their own list of rules that their teen drivers must follow if they want to have access to a car. Some of these rules should include:
-Set a limit on where the teen can drive
-Limit the number of teen passengers allowed in the car to one or none, even after the first six months
-Impose a no-texting or talking on a cell phone while driving rule
-Require the teen to wear a seatbelt at all times he or she is in the car
-Do not let the teen ride with another teen driver
-Discuss the dangers of drinking and driving and create a plan for what the teen should do if in this situation
Parents should also ensure that their teen drivers have had plenty of supervised driving experience before allowing them to drive alone. One way to do this is by participating in Nevada's graduated licensing program.
The majority of states, including Nevada, have a graduated licensing program to help make sure teens are not given too much responsibility too early. In Nevada, drivers under 18 first are required to obtain a learner's permit, or instructional license, before receiving a full license. Once the teen driver has his or her learner's permit, the driver is required to complete 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours of night driving, before he or she is eligible to apply for a full license.
Having the Proper Insurance
Unfortunately, parents have no way to guarantee that their children will follow their rules and drive safely once they leave the house. They also cannot control the actions of other drivers, including other teen drivers, who may be involved in an accident with their child. Having proper insurance coverage is another way for parents to protect their children.
Many insurance agents do not take the time necessary to explain optional coverages under auto insurance policies, even if they are required by law to do so. Below you will find information on UM/UIM policies, Med Pay coverage and umbrella insurance. All families, especially those with teen drivers, should have these types of insurance coverages.
Underinsured and Uninsured Policies (UM/UIM)
An uninsured policy provides coverage for your bodily injuries and property damage if you are involved in an accident caused by a driver with no car insurance or in a hit-and-run.
An underinsured policy provides coverage for your bodily injuries and property damage in the event that the driver responsible for your injuries does not have enough insurance to cover all of your losses.
UM/UIM policies cover everyone in your family and any passengers in your car.
Med Pay Coverage
Med pay, or "medical payment" coverage, is another optional coverage available under your auto insurance policy. Med pay will cover any medical expenses of you, your family or any passengers in your vehicle, up to the policy limits, after you have been in an accident. It does not matter if you are at fault for the accident. If you or a family member were in someone else's car when the accident occurred, your med pay coverage will cover your medical expenses if the car's driver does not have coverage or enough coverage to pay for your hospital and doctor bills.
Umbrella Insurance
Umbrella insurance, or "excess liability coverage," is a separate type of insurance policy that provides protection in cases of personal liability judgments against you or a family member. For example, if your child is driving your car and hits another car, killing the car's driver, your umbrella insurance policy could provide coverage up to the policy limits for any wrongful death judgment against your child. An umbrella policy will also cover accidents that may occur at your home, like a repairperson who is severally injured in a fall on your property and sues you for his or her injuries.
Conclusion
A recent study found that the children of parents who discuss the dangers of driving with them and set driving rules that must be followed are less likely to engage in some of the riskiest behaviors that lead to accidents, including cell phone use, texting and drinking and driving.
While these are encouraging results, parents should not rely on talking alone - they also should check their insurance coverages to make sure they have their family fully covered just in case the worst case scenario becomes a reality.
Article provided by The Law Offices of Barry Levinson
Visit us at www.personalinjuryaccidentcenter.com
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