Highland Traffic Safety Starts with Parents

Listen up parents!

Your teens are watching your every move behind the wheel. There will be no bigger impact on their driving habits than the example you set behind the wheel. According to Claims Journal, a recent study from Liberty Mutual Insurance and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), close to 70 percent of teen drivers say that their parents are following a whole different set of driving rules as they are — and it’s not fair.In the recent study, there were more than 1,500 teen drivers surveyed. What the survey found is that these young drivers are highly likely to mimic the driving behaviors of their parents. If you’re driving poorly, your child is going to as well. Some of the dangerous driving habits that were noted in the study were distracted driving, speeding, driving without a seat belt and even driving under the influence of alcohol. Parents who engaged in these dangerous driving habits were likely to have teen drivers who did the same thing.

Our Highland car accident lawyers understand the driving habits that these young drivers learn during their first year behind the wheel are most likely the driving habits they’ll hang on to for the rest of their lives.

Teens observe their parents and the following common dangerous driving habits:

-More than 90 percent talk on the phone behind the wheel.

-Close to 90 percent exceed the speed limit.

-Close to 60 percent text message while driving.

-Half of teens are driven by a parent who isn’t wearing a seat belt.

-About 10 percent drive under the influence of alcohol.

“The best teacher for a teen driver is a good parental role model,” said Stephen Wallace, senior adviser for SADD.

It’s important for everyone in your household to follow the same driving rules. Make sure that you talk with your teen about safe driving. Have this conversation with your teen frequently. You might not think so, but you’re the most influential person in your young driver’s life.

Of the 1,700 teenager who were surveyed, most reported their parents were making poor driving decisions.

Poor Teen Driving Behavior:

-90 percent say they talk on the phone behind the wheel.

-Close to 95 percent say they speed, at least occasionally.

-Close to half say they speed often.

-About 80 percent say they text message while driving.

-More than 15 percent say they drive under the influence of marijuana.

-About 15 percent say that they drive under the influence of alcohol.

-About a third say that they drive without wearing a seat belt.

Parents — talk with your teen about the importance of safe driving. More importantly, make sure that you’re setting a safe example behind the wheel. Winter weather is just around the corner. Many teens are earning their driving rights as the new school year gets under way. Helping your young driver build a strong foundation can help keep them safe for years to come. more If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a car crash, contact Highland Injury Lawyer Burton A. Padove for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your case. Call 219-836-2200. More Blog Entries: Highland Traffic Safety: Parents Upset over Red Dot for Teens, Indiana Injury and Family Lawyer Blog, August 10, 2012 Teens and Risks for Car Accidents in Highland and Elsewhere during Summer Season, Indiana Injury and Family Lawyer Blog, June 3, 2012