Back to School Rush: Parent’s guide to keeping their teen safe behind the wheel
August 10, 2009
COLUMBIA, SC – August 10, 2009 – Back to school is about more than school supplies, new clothes and a return to familiar routines. It is also about good times, social gatherings and renewing acquaintances. But for parents of teens who drive, or ride with new teen drivers, it is also a time of concern.
Nearly 6,000 teens are killed and approximately 300,000 injured in automobile crashes each year. In fact, teenage drivers have the highest crash risk of any age group, and the problem is worst among 16 year-olds, who have the most limited driving experience behind the wheel.
To help keep your teen driver safe regardless of the season, Allstate suggests that you consider the following guidelines for safe driving:
- Put a limit on the number of passengers in the car. Teens are likely to have more trouble focusing on the road with laughter, music, food and other distractions, all of which increase with the number of passengers.
- Establish and enforce a house curfew. Check with your local police department to see if your town has a curfew for minors. If not, set your own.
- Insist that your teen and his or her passengers always use seat belts. Teens tend to wear seat belts less often than other drivers. Remind your teen that the presence of airbags does not mean he or she can ignore seat belts.
- Make sure your teen keeps the cell phone turned off. Teens may love talking on the phone, but doing so while driving is a dangerous distraction. Talking on a cell phone can give a teen the reaction time of a 70-year old.
- Limit or supervise your teen’s driving during times of high risk. In 2005, the highest number of fatal teen driving accidents occurred on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Also in 2005, one-half of teen crash deaths happened between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m.
- Set driving area limits. If your teen wants to travel outside your town or city, require that he or she request special permission.
- Prohibit driving or riding with others under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Your teen should know that you will always be willing to pick up him or her rather than have them risk driving after they have been drinking or riding with a driver who has been drinking. Consider revoking driving privileges for a period of time if your teen places himself/herself in these dangerous situations.
For more information about safe teen driving, please contact Allstate agent Kevin Shealy at (803 699 -9880, or via email at [email protected].
Visit http://www.allstate.com/citizenship/foundation/teen-safe-driving.aspx to order resources such as the Drive it Right: Talking to Teens about Safe Driving DVD or download the Parent-Teen Driving Contract.
The Allstate Corporation
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the You’re In Good Hands With Allstate® slogan, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to help more than 17 million households insure what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow. Consumers access Allstate insurance products and services through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, as well as via http://www.allstate.com/ and 1-800 Allstate®.
