Parents and teens alike in California should understand just how crucial it is to be a safe driver, especially in the summer. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the nation experiences the “100 deadliest days,” during which there’s a rise in fatalities linked with teen driving crashes. There were more than 8,300 such fatalities during this span of time between 2008 and 2018.
Teen drivers are notorious for their unsafe behaviors, and a AAA Traffic Safety Culture Index has found out just what the most common of those behaviors are. First of all, 72% of respondents aged 16 to 18 admitted to some unsafe act in the previous 30 days. Of these, 47% significantly exceeded the speed limit in a residential region while 40% did so on the highway. Red-light running was mentioned by 32% and aggressive driving by 31%. As for texting, 35% admitted to this.
All of this, in addition to drowsy driving, impaired driving and seatbelt neglect, becomes even more widespread during the 100 deadliest days. To prepare for this period each year, parents can do several things. To start with, they could discuss the dangers of these actions with their teens. Parents should be good role models first, however, or their teens may not take any advice seriously. Practice driving sessions can be another good idea.
When teens cause motor vehicle accidents because they choose to forgo good advice, they can leave other road users dealing with serious injuries. These victims, provided their degree of fault is less than the defendant’s, could be entitled to compensation for crash-related damages. They can seek that compensation through a personal injury claim. It may be smart to retain legal counsel before taking this major step.
