Will Your New Teen Driver Be Safe Behind The Wheel?

Your teenager just got a brand new driver’s license, and there’s a lot of trepidation mixed in with your pride. It’s normal to be worried, but please know that there are things you can and should do to increase the chances that your teen will be safe on the South Florida roads.

The first thing you can do is to lead by example. Drive the way you want your teen to drive – if you speed, tailgate, and drive aggressively, your teen probably will follow your lead when he or she gets behind the wheel. Make sure your teen realizes that driving demands full attention and fully understands the dangers associated with it – for the person behind the wheel, for the passengers, and for the other drivers and pedestrians with whom the road is shared. Establish a firm, clear set of rules – stressing that any unsafe behavior or failure to obey the rules means that the keys will be taken away. These rules must include that the driver and all passengers wear seat belts every time they get in the car, that texting is strictly forbidden, and that any form of drinking and driving is completely unacceptable. You should place limits on the number of people that your teen is allowed to have in the car; the less distractions, the better the concentration. And since nighttime is a more dangerous time to drive, set a strict time by which the car has to be back in the garage.

While adding a teen to your auto policy will likely raise the price of your insurance, check for available discounts from your insurance company. Some insurers offer discounts, for example, if your teen is on the honor roll or completes an approved safe driving course.

No matter how good and conscientious a driver your teen turns out to be, accidents do happen. If you or a loved one has been involved in a car crash in South Florida, contact the Automobile Accident Attorneys of the Fenstersheib Law Group, P.A., toll-free, at 1-800-TellRobert. We have over three decades of experience with vehicular accidents and personal injury cases, and we will evaluate your claim free of charge and advise you about your legal rights to collect compensation. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.