The biggest step that parents can take to help prevent their teen drivers from being involved in an accident is to ensure that their teenagers are prepared to be on the road. During the time that teenagers have their learner’s permits, parents should be intentional about teaching them the rules of the road, how to address certain circumstances while driving, and ensure that they take a driver’s education course. Preparation is the best way that parents can help their teen drivers avoid accidents.
Being aware is the first step to preventing accidents. Parents should tell their teenagers to try to avoid the accidents by being a defensive driver who is aware of their surroundings and other cars around them. Teenagers should be encouraged by their parents to be mindful of traffic patterns and to use their signals well in advance of any maneuvers they plan to execute. Teenage drivers should able to identify any potential problems on the roadway and properly respond to them. Teens should also be prepared for the unexpected, such as an adjacent vehicle suddenly changing lanes or speeds. Allowing extra space between vehicles and reducing speed can lessen the likelihood of an accident.
Driver’s education courses teach teenage drivers how to identify traffic patterns or problems on the road, predict what might happen next, decide how they are going to respond, and then execute that response. This helps teens be able to plan what they are going to do next and carry out their plan safely.
If a teenage driver is in an accident, they should contact first responders and seek immediate medical attention. Teen drivers should be taught that if an accident occurs, and depending on the severity of the accident, they should try to park the car off the road and stay inside the vehicle until reaching a safe location.
This is because a secondary collision may occur if someone exits the vehicle and steps onto the road or does not remove the vehicle entirely from the road. Sometimes this happens in bad weather when approaching drivers hit their brakes, slide, and collide with the vehicles that are stopped or pulled off the road. Teen drivers should also have an emergency kit in their vehicles that includes first-aid, water, warm blankets, and other necessary supplies. Parents should inform their teenagers of safe practices after vehicle accidents and ensure that they know the dangers that might be present even after the collision itself.
If your teen was involved in a vehicle wreck in Pennsylvania, contact the law office of Marcus & Mack. Our skilled attorneys could provide a thorough evaluation of your situation during a free case consultation. Call today.
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