Longmont United Hospital

Drive Like You Own the Car, Not the Road

IN ADOLESCENT HEALTH

Have you or your teenager ever been ticketed for a moving violation or involved in an auto accident? If so, you know it can be frustrating, costly, even life-altering and tragic. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) (www.nhtsa.dot.gov), auto accidents are the number one killer of 15-to-20-year-olds in the United States. Here are some tips from the NHTSA and TeensHealth (www.kidshealth.org) to help you and your teenager travel safely. Based on what we know about the causes of accidents, here are a few things you can teach your teenager to help him or her stay out of harm's way and minimize damage if there is an accident.
  • Be extra careful at night and in bad weather.
  • Choose a safe vehicle.
  • Don't drink and drive.
  • Follow the speed limits (maximums and minimums).
  • Keep your attention on your driving and the road ahead.
  • Stay calm.
  • Wear the seat belt.
  • Consider taking a driver education class or defensive driving course. Being careful and gaining more driving experience will go a long way toward helping your teen become a safe driver.
Follow the Facts Accidents can be caused by a variety of things, sometimes at the most unexpected times, but there are certain facts and stats that are clues to help us be more alert and prepared. For example, half of all teen traffic deaths occur between 6 p.m. Friday and 3 a.m. Sunday, and one out of every five teen drivers killed in crashes is intoxicated. In addition to intoxication and weekend driving hours, we know that other common causes include:
  • driver error
  • drug use
  • night driving
  • passenger distraction
  • reckless driving
  • road rage
  • speeding
  • inclement weather

Safe Driving Tips from People Just Like You
Ryan Buckholtz was a teenager learning to drive in Maryland back in 1995 when several of his classmates were involved in serious car accidents. In response, as a community service, Ryan started a Web site, www.teendriving.com, to help other teens learn to drive more safely. Through the years, millions of teens, parents, teachers, and police from all over the world have sent safe driving tips to the site. Cruise on over and take a look.
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