Drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 account for 6.1% of all accidents due to their lack of experience. In this blog, we’ll explore some of the most prevalent errors teen drivers make and offer strategies to promote safer driving habits.

Following Too Closely

One of the most common mistakes teen drivers make is following other vehicles too closely, also known as tailgating. Failing to maintain a safe following distance increases the likelihood of rear-end collisions, especially in situations where sudden stops are necessary. Teen drivers should remember the three-second rule: maintain a distance of at least three seconds behind the vehicle in front of you to allow ample time to react to changes in traffic conditions.

Tunnel Vision

Many teen drivers exhibit tunnel vision while behind the wheel, focusing solely on the road immediately ahead of them without scanning their surroundings. This limited field of vision can lead to a failure to anticipate potential hazards, such as merging vehicles, semi-trucks, pedestrians, or debris on the road. Encouraging teen drivers to practice situational awareness by regularly scanning their mirrors and checking blind spots can help mitigate the risks associated with tunnel vision.

Distracted Driving

In today’s digital age, distracted driving has become a prevalent issue among teen drivers. Whether it’s texting, using social media, or adjusting music playlists, distractions divert attention away from the road and increase the likelihood of accidents. Educating teen drivers about the dangers of distracted driving and encouraging them to stow their phones out of reach while driving can help minimize distractions and keep their focus where it belongs—on the road.

Not Wearing a Seatbelt

Failing to wear a seatbelt is a critical mistake that teen drivers often make. Seatbelts are one of the most effective safety devices in vehicles, significantly reducing the risk of injury or death in the event of a crash. Teen drivers should make it a habit to buckle up before starting the engine, and parents can lead by example by consistently wearing their seatbelts as well.

Friends in the Car

Teen drivers may be tempted to show off their newfound driving skills by having friends ride along with them. However, the presence of passengers, especially peers, can be a significant distraction and increase the likelihood of risky driving behaviors, such as speeding or engaging in horseplay. Parents should establish clear rules regarding passenger limits and encourage teen drivers to focus solely on the task of driving when behind the wheel.

Speeding

Excessive speeding is another common mistake among teen drivers, often fueled by a desire for excitement or a lack of awareness of speed limits. However, speeding significantly reduces the driver’s ability to react to unexpected events and increases the severity of accidents. Teen drivers should adhere to posted speed limits and adjust their speed according to road and weather conditions to ensure safe driving.

Driving Under the Influence

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a grave mistake that can have devastating consequences for teen drivers and others on the road. Impaired driving significantly impairs judgment, coordination, and reaction times, dramatically increasing the risk of accidents and fatalities. Parents should have open and honest conversations with their teen drivers about the dangers of impaired driving and emphasize the importance of always driving sober.

Lane Changing Errors

Improper lane changes, such as failing to signal, cutting off other vehicles, or drifting into adjacent lanes, are common mistakes among teen drivers. These errors can result in sideswipe collisions or multi-vehicle accidents, endangering the lives of everyone on the road. Teen drivers should practice proper lane-change procedures, including signaling well in advance, checking blind spots, and yielding to other vehicles when merging or changing lanes.

How To Promote Safer Teen Driving

To promote safer driving habits among teen drivers, parents and guardians can take several proactive measures:

1. Lead by example: Demonstrate safe driving behaviors and adhere to traffic laws whenever you’re behind the wheel.
2. Enroll in driver education courses: Encourage teen drivers to complete comprehensive driver education programs that emphasize defensive driving techniques and hazard awareness.
3. Establish clear rules: Set ground rules for teen drivers, including restrictions on passengers, nighttime driving, and cellphone use while driving.
4. Practice supervised driving: Continue to supervise teen drivers even after they obtain their licenses, providing guidance and feedback to help them develop safe driving habits.
5. Encourage open communication: Create a supportive environment where teen drivers feel comfortable discussing their experiences, concerns, and questions about driving.

By recognizing and addressing common mistakes, they can become safer and more responsible drivers. Promoting awareness, education, and proactive measures, parents and guardians can help guide teen drivers toward a lifetime of safe and confident driving. Together, we can work to reduce accidents, injuries, and fatalities on our roads and create a safer environment for everyone.

Also read:

How to Choose the Right Therapeutic School

What Causes of Teenage Mental Health Issues?

The post Common Mistakes Teen Drivers Make first appeared on Help Your Teens.

The post Dangers of Distracted Driving and Safety Tips for Teens first appeared on Help Your Teens.

However, texting turns out to be a huge issue when driving and needs to be addressed immediately. Being distracted when driving not just puts the teen’s life in danger but also that of fellow passengers.

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving has led to over 38,824 deaths in the U.S. in 2020. A study on distracted driving conducted on more than 1000 licensed drivers revealed that 86% of drivers text when driving. 

So, instead of contributing to these crash statistics on distracted driving, it is best for teens to avoid mobile phones altogether and encourage others to do the same. In this article, we will discuss nine ways to prevent teenagers from texting when driving.

1. Enroll Them in a Professional Driving Course

Professional driving schools impart interactive driving lessons to the teens. The expert trainers go beyond the basics to teach the teen how to be a great driver. They ensure that the teen follows the best driving practices, such as distraction-free driving, adherence to traffic laws and signs, and safe driving principles.

They also train the teens to drive under difficult conditions, such as heavy traffic, tricky turns, highways, and more that you, as a parent, might avoid teaching because of the stress it could potentially cause. 

2. Set a Good Example

If you want your teen to practice safe driving habits, be conscious of yours first. Teens always observe their parents and copy them. Demonstrate safe driving behavior by restricting cell phone use when driving. 

You can either respond to the texts when you have reached the destination or ask your teen seated next to you to respond to them on your behalf. Act responsibly and follow the driving practices you want your teen to follow.

3. Be Aware of Their Driving Habits

Observe your teen’s driving habits by being a passenger in the car. Pay attention to how they handle situations, such as an urgent phone call or an important text. Encourage teens to attend any texts or calls before starting the car or toward the end of the journey. Correct their mistakes, if any, with simple and clear instructions. 

4. Have an Open Discussion on the Ill Effects of Distracted Driving 

Inform your teens of the dangers of texting when driving, such as accidents or crashes resulting in injuries, fatalities, and sometimes, deaths. Make them aware of the consequences of distracted driving, like traffic tickets, elevated insurance costs, and more.

They should know that texting when driving is illegal and by doing so, they are breaking the law. Show them the staggering statistics about the number of accidents caused due to this distraction. You could also let them watch videos of the aftermath of an accident. 

By making them aware of the dangers, you instill a sense of responsibility in them, thereby encouraging them to drive without any distractions.

5. Set Consequences for Inappropriate Driving Behavior

The teens must understand that driving is a privilege. They must know that it can be taken away by you or by the law if safe driving practices are not followed. 

For example, if your teen is caught texting when driving, take away their driving privileges or have them pay for traffic violations.

6. Monitor Your Teen’s Driving Using Apps

Many mobile apps help you track cell phone activity remotely without any hassles. These apps can also be used to block text messages and calls. Hoverwatch, Cocospy, uMobix, and MSpy are some of the examples of these tracking apps that you can use. 

Inform your teens that they are being monitored. In such situations, they will more likely follow the rules. Convince them that you are monitoring driving habits for helping them become a better driver.

7. Encourage Them to Install Safety Apps  

Installing safe driving apps, such as DriveMode, EverDrive, or TextDrive on your teen’s phone will automatically silence text alerts or phone calls when motion is detected. It can also send automated replies to the people trying to contact your teen. 

Alternatively, teens can use the built-in ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode on their phones. This mode blocks notifications ensuring zero distractions. 

8. Avoid Texting Your Teen When They Drive

Stop texting or calling your teens if you know they will be driving during a certain time. In the fear that parents might get mad, most teens end up returning the texts or calls and land up in accidents. 

Research by Deccan Herald revealed that more than half of teenagers aged between 15 and 18 were talking and texting their parents when driving.

9. Train Them to Effectively Manage Emergencies

Train your teens to pull over and get to a safe place to attend to urgent calls or texts. Stopping the vehicle at a gas station or a parking area to attend a call is better than looking at the phone when driving and risking lives. 

Summing Up

Distracted driving among teens has always been a topic of concern for parents. We hope this article will help you convince your teens to practice safe driving. Take effective measures shared here to ensure that your teens understand the dangers of texting when driving and act as responsible citizens. 

Contributor/Author: Aliza Vigderman is the director of content at AutoInsurance.com, overseeing all content on the site. Previously, she worked as an industry analyst and senior editor at Security.org, a site covering home and digital security. She has also worked as a freelance writer at SquareFoot, Degreed, and The Huffington Post. Her background is in journalism, which she studied at Brandeis University.

Also read:

 5 Benefits of Therapeutic Boarding Schools for Troubled Teens.

Purpose of Boarding Schools for Troubled Teens.

What Causes of Teenage Mental Health Issues?

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Do you have a teen that is struggling? Are they defiant, driving recklessly? Is your teen doing drugs and driving? Have you exhausted your local resources and at your wit’s end? Learn more about the benefits of residential treatment for your troubled teenager. Contact us for a free consultation.

The post 9 Ways to Prevent Teen Texting and Driving first appeared on Help Your Teens.

Is your teen texting and driving? Are they eating or applying make-up?

Obtaining a driver’s license as a young adult can be a rite of passage for your child. For parents, it can also often be a stressful time. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1,000 accidents and nine deaths per day are caused by a distracted driver.

As parents, we have the duty to educate our teens about the dangers of distracted driving in an effort to combat unnecessary injuries and deaths.

Here are a few extra safety steps you can take to ensure your teen is keeping their eyes on the road, and away from distractions. 

Practice Makes Perfect

Young drivers can never have too much practice behind the wheel. As a parent, it’s crucial you spend ample time with them while they’re learning the rules of the road. In addition, having them take behind-the-wheel courses with a professional can ensure that they are getting the extra attention and guidance they need.

Remove Potential Distractions

According to Chicago car accident attorney, Steven Seidman, “a distraction can be much more than just a cellphone. Common driver distractions include everything from eating food, adjusting the music, applying makeup, or trying to figure out the GPS directions to your destination.” 

Have your teen turn on the “Do Not Disturb” mode on their phones. This feature allows your phone to detect when you’re in a moving car and mutes all incoming calls, texts, and other notifications to combat distractions.

A study conducted by EverQuote found that 70% of EverDrive iPhone users kept their “Do Not Disturb” feature enabled; one in four (27%) iPhone users disabled the feature. Of those users enabling the feature, phone use while driving decreased by 8%.

In addition, their findings concluded that for drivers who use the “Do Not Disturb” feature, 75% believe it has made them safer drivers. Only 15% don’t believe it made them safer drivers while 10% were unsure.

Maintain Distance and Follow The Speed Limit

Rear-end collisions make up a majority of car accidents. Emphasize to your teen the importance of increasing the distance between you and the car ahead of you. This safety precaution can allow the driver time to recognize a safety hazard and respond accordingly. 

According to the NHTSA, you should follow the “three-second rule.” Maintaining approximately three seconds’ worth of space between you and the car in front of you will help ensure that you are maintaining a safe distance in the event of the unexpected. 

Keep Calm and Teach On

Driving requires mastering many skills such as accelerating smoothly, parallel parking, making sharp turns, backing up, braking, and more. These are skills your teen will not pick up overnight, but instilling confidence in their abilities and letting them know you trust them can be a crucial component of how they continue to progress. The last thing you want is for your child to be fearful of operating a motor vehicle. 

Raising confident drivers means we need to be confident drivers ourselves and set a good example. Practice what you preach!

Read more tips on how to talk to your teen about driving responsibilities and keeping them safe on the roads.

Read: 5 Benefits of Therapeutic Boarding Schools.

Read: Where to Send Your Troubled Teens.

Read: What Causes Teen Mental Health Issues.

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Contact us if you have exhausted your local resources with your troubled teen. We help you make smart decisions for teen help programs, therapeutic boarding schools and other options for struggling teens.

The post Tips to Limit Teen Distracted Driving first appeared on Help Your Teens.

Teenager drivers have increasingly become the major victims of road accidents today. This has been majorly due to extreme carelessness and unremitted distractions.

Since the law allows teenagers to acquire driving license at an early age, the best alternative for curbing this menace is championing the various ways on how to prevent teen distracted driving.

Parents are usually the best teachers for their children. However, external enlightenment for teenagers is always provided by other organizations and groups.

Distractions that might overwhelm teens include personal grooming while driving, eating, and talking to passengers in the back seat. Besides some teens watch videos in the car and are often distracted by road maps. Additionally, loud music is rarely considered though deadly distraction for drivers. Distracted driving is causing more car accidents.

Here are the major ways on how to prevent teen distracted driving. Parents are usually vested with a natural authority to help implement these methods.

Limiting cell phone use while driving

Messaging services and social media are usually the favorite phone applications for teens. They always feel compelled to update their peers constantly about their welfare. Though they have little driving experience and have spent fewer hours behind the wheels, they adamantly refuse to put their phones away.

However, teens should be reminded to always keep their phones off or on silent mode while driving.

They should not carry familiar passengers in the back seat

With friends at the backseat, stories always keep getting interesting. However, as the conversations continue, the driver gets distracted and is prone to lose control of the vehicle. Nevertheless, it is the role of parents to enact strict rules prohibiting their children from carrying friends in the back seat.

No driving under the influence of alcohol

Teens should not be allowed to go partying with their cars. They should use public transport instead. Alcohol causes disorientation and hallucinations that can be very detrimental while driving.

Grooming and eating before driving

This requires efficient time management skills so that teen do not multitask while driving shifting of attention can lead to serious fatalities.

Regulating the use of music

It is important to regulate the volume of playing music to increase concentration. Additionally, you should not keep on changing stations and selecting songs.

The overall effects of distracted teen driving are way more deadly. It is this reason that this article proves to be very important. However, you can get information to prevent distracted teen driving by consulting on legal implications from a car accident attorney.

Also read:

Benefits of Therapeutic Boarding Schools

Success in Therapeutic Boarding Schools

Why Residential Treatment Works When Home Therapy Fails

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If you are struggling with your teenager and have exhausted your local resources, learn more about how residential treatment can help your troubled teen make better choices. Contact us today for  a free consultation.

The post How To Prevent Teen Distracted Driving first appeared on Help Your Teens.

Distracted driving kills the same as drunk driving. That’s the message people need to understand. Generations prior it was loud and clear, if you drink and drive, you risk killing yourself or other people on the road.

We must make distracted driving as serious as getting behind the wheel while intoxicated.

Survey Suggests Over Half Of Teen Drivers May Be Overconfident In Their Driving Skills

Hum by Verizon released new survey findings to raise awareness of teen driver safety, the needs of young drivers, and the benefits that technology can provide on the road. KRC Research conducted the survey of 1,004 American teens (ages 13-17) between Sept. 26 and Oct. 3, 2017.

More than half (57 percent) of teen drivers responded that they are just as good at driving as their parent or guardian, yet nearly three in four (72 percent) have felt unsafe on the road and cited getting into an accident (77 percent) as their No. 1 concern on the road.

Additional findings include:

Opportunity for more driver’s education

·        51 percent of teen drivers wish they had learned more about how to drive safely in ice, snow and wet weather.

·        47 percent of teen drivers wish they had learned more about how to change a tire and 44 percent wish they knew how to jump start a battery.

·        34 percent wish they had learned more about how to handle distractions in the car while driving, either through driver’s education or with their parents.

Teens’ confidence and concerns

·        57 percent of teen drivers would prefer to learn driving skills from someone other than their parent or guardian.

·        77 percent of teens say their main concerns on the road are accidents and 53 percent are concerned with other aggressive drivers, followed by getting a speeding ticket 42 percent and running out of gas 37 percent.

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If you are struggling with your troubled teenager and you have exhausted your local resources, learn more about how residential treatment can help your teen. Contact us today for  a free consultation.

The post Helping Teens Become Safer Drivers first appeared on Help Your Teens.

Memorial Day marks the start of the 100 deadliest days , when the average number of teens dying from car crashes is 16 percent higher than the rest of the year, according to AAA. That’s because teens are on the road more during the summer months. During this time of year, more parents are also on the road while taking their kids to swim lessons, baseball, softball, summer camp, and more.

AT&T is using the Memorial Day Weekend as an opportunity to remind young drivers, and their parents, to never let their smartphones distract them behind the wheel. And a good first step is to take the pledge at www.itcanwait.com to keep your eyes on the road, not on your phone and encourage your family, friends and neighbors to do the same. AT&T launched the It Can Wait campaign in 2010 to help put an end to texting and driving.

Since that time, AT&T research has revealed smartphone distracted driving has grown beyond texting to video chatting, emailing, web surfing, photo snapping, posting to social media, and more.

In addition to taking the IT CAN WAIT pledge, AT&T encourages drivers to use a free app, like AT&T DriveMode, to help curb the temptation to engage in texting while driving. This is especially important for teen drivers, since texting is their primary mode of communication. The DriveMode app silences incoming text messages and sends an auto-reply to the sender letting the person know you’re driving.

The app’s auto-mode feature automatically turns on the app when you reach 15 MPH and turns it off after you stop. And parents will receive a notification if their teen driver turns off the app. The AT&T DriveMode app is available to customers of all wireless carriers for iPhone and Android users.

AT&T has also added a virtual reality experience component to the IT CAN WAIT campaign to show the potentially deadly consequences of glancing at your smartphone while driving. You can download the free AT&T VR app and buy Google Cardboard at www.ItCanWait.com/VR to use with your smartphone to experience the IT CAN WAIT driving simulation.

Lastly, AT&T encourages you to get involved with the IT CAN WAIT movement and educate others in your community and workplace about the dangers of smartphone distracted driving. You could just save a life.

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If you are struggling with your troubled teenager and you have exhausted your local resources, learn more about how residential treatment can help your teen. Contact us today for  a free consultation.

The post 100 Deadliest Days on the Road for Teen Drivers first appeared on Help Your Teens.

What is Cellslip

No one needs to be reminded of the deadly statistics of distracted driving, especially as it pertains to teen drivers.  However let’s review some of them again from Distracted Driving Accidents:

• 1 out of 4 car accidents in the US are caused by texting while driving.
• Texting and driving is 6 times more likely to get you in an accident than drunk driving. That’s right, it is actually safer for someone to get wasted and get behind the wheel than to text and do it.
• It takes an average of three seconds after a driver’s mind is taken off the road for any road accident to occur. This is the bare minimum amount of time it takes, and it is surprisingly small. Three seconds is the time it takes to turn your ignition when starting your car.
• Every day, 11 teenagers die because they were texting while driving.
• 94% of teenagers understand the consequences of texting and driving, but 35% of them admitted that they do it anyway.
• Of all the teenagers ever involved in fatal accidents every year, 21% were using a cell phone at the time of the accident.
• Teen drivers have a 400% higher chance of being in a car crash when texting while driving than adults.
• 25% of teens respond to at least one text while driving, every single time.
• 10% of adults and 20% of teenagers have admitted that they have entire conversations over text message platforms while driving.
• 52% of these talk on the phone while driving, and 32% text on the road.
• When teens text while they drive, they veer off lane 10% of their total drive time.

Finally there is a perfect gift that can save lives, including your teenager’s life. Cellslip is an easy to use pocket that they can insert their phone into before they start driving. It blocks all incoming calls and text messages so they can concentrate on the road. When you remove the phone from the pocket, all your messages are received! They won’t miss a thing! No FOMO! (Fear of missing out).

It’s bright red to remind you of the dangers of distracted driving.

They have partnered with AAA, so this insures they are a quality product for you and your family’s safety.

This is a perfect holiday gift, not only for your teenager or young adult in your life, but for that hard to buy for person.  Have a holiday office party? Give them a Cellslip!

Order your’s today – check out family pack!

Read: 5 Benefits of Therapeutic Boarding Schools.

Read: Success in Therapeutic Boarding Schools.

Read: Why Residential Treatment Works When Home Therapy Fails.

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Contact us today for a free consultation for your teen and the right therapeutic boarding school. 

The post Cellslip Stopping Teens From Distracted Driving first appeared on Help Your Teens.

Stress the importance of minimizing distractions while driving with your teens.

The following five tips can help to achieve this.

1. Educating your teen about the dangers of distracted driving is essential, and one of the first things they need to learn. Talk with them about the dangers of texting, talking, eating, and doing other such tasks while driving a vehicle. Sharing stories with them about tragedies that have occurred due to distracted driving can emphasize the point. There are also commercials and videos that demonstrate these dangers that can be used as educational tools.

2. Teens love driving around with their friends, but teenage passengers can often cause distractions. One tip to help control that is to limit the number of passengers allowed in the car at one time while your teenager is driving. Your child probably won’t be thrilled about the restriction, but it’s better to annoy them than to cope with the devastating aftermath of an accident.

3. While it may not seem like an obvious factor, closed-toed shoes are important when it comes to safe driving. Although they’re a favorite, flip-flops are not the best footwear to wear when driving, since they can easily slip off while using the brake pedals. This can easily cause a distraction, so it’s best to suggest your child wear closed-toed shoes while getting used to driving.

4. One of the worst distractions in a car today is mobile phones. This holds true for both teens and adults. How can you be absolutely sure your teen is not texting, talking, or using an app while they’re driving? Downloading a safety app can help. There are several apps available that can give you, the parent, control over your child’s phone, like disabling it when they take the car out for a drive. Some apps also offer auto-power off features that disable the phone when the vehicle reaches a certain speed.

5. It is important for parents to lead by example. If you say one thing but do another, your teen will pick up on that and not take you seriously. As a parent you need to be sure to always buckle your seatbelt, do not text, and do not talk on your phone while driving. If you need to make a call, text, or change the GPS, pull over to do so.

Safety is All That Matters

You child may not be happy with some of these ideas being enforced, but at least they’ll be safe while out on the roads. You can always suggest that they get a job within walking distance if they take issue with your rules.  Once all is said and done, all that really matters is the safety of your teen and everyone sharing the road with them.

Read: 5 Benefits of Therapeutic Boarding Schools.

Read: Success in Therapeutic Boarding Schools.

Read: Why Residential Treatment Works When Home Therapy Fails.

Contributor: Vee Cecil 

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If you are struggling with your teenager and have exhausted your local resources, learn more about how residential treatment can help your troubled teen make better choices. Contact us today for  a free consultation.

The post Preventing Distracted Driving first appeared on Help Your Teens.

A fresh look at 10 years of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) shows the improvements in teen-involved fatal crash rates have not been as dramatic for older teens (ages 18-20) as compared to their younger counterparts (ages 15-17), and teen drivers are still 1.6 times more likely to be involved in a crash than adults.

The report examines the differences in fatal crashes between older and younger teens, as well as by gender, and provides a set of 11 policy and best practice recommendations for states to implement.

What is the problem?

• The analysis finds that teen drivers are still 1.6 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than their adult counterparts.
• New data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show teen-involved fatal crashes spiked 10 percent in 2015, the first uptick since 2006.
• According to GHSA’s new analysis, fatal crash rates for 18- to 20-year-old drivers have shown considerably less improvement over the past 10 years than for 15- to 17-year-old drivers.
• Older teen drivers are involved in more fatal crashes than younger teens.
• It is estimated that one in three teens is not licensed by age 18, which means that they do not benefit from graduated driver licensing (GDL) programs, which are proven to reduce crash risk by as much as 30 percent.

The report was funded through a grant from the Ford Motor Company Fund. The data analysis was conducted by Richard Retting of Sam Schwartz Transportation Consultants, and the report was researched and written by national teen driving expert Pam Fischer.

Read the full press release here.

The post Teen-Involved Crash Deaths Spike 10 Percent first appeared on Help Your Teens.