Well, let’s talk today about teen driving, proms, and high school graduations. There are nine tips, safety tips that you should discuss with your teenager if they are actually driving. The first one, of course, would be turning off the cell phone before they get into the car and making sure that their friends do not distract them by taking photos of them while they are driving.
Second would be, never drink and drive, of course, and don’t get into a vehicle with somebody who is drunk. Erratic behavior, I should say, among passengers is another cause of serious accidents. Third, avoid driving completely. If possible, get friends or relatives to run a limo if they can afford it or simply ask someone else to play chauffeur. Fourth, make sure to wear seat belts at all times. Five, make sure that your child has their playlist set before they get into the car so that they don’t have to fumble around or change the tracks or the stations.
Number seven would be to always, of course, obey the speed limit and the rules of the road. Eight would be, don’t drink, eat, brush your teeth or put on makeup or shave while you’re in the car. Also, make sure, and this is an important one, to leave early so that you don’t feel rushed. You may also want to consider this, that is to create a parent-teen driving agreement to make sure that both you and your teenager are on the same page when it comes to driving. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention makes it easy to download this form from their website.
If you have any questions whatsoever about teen driving and accidents or unfortunately have been the victim of somebody who’s been hurt by a teen driver, please call my office at 770-792-1000.