Whether you have been dreading or looking forward to it, the day will eventually come when your teenager leaves home for his or her first solo trip behind the wheel. As a parent, you have a critical role to play in teaching your teen to be a safe driver.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, accidents are the leading cause of death for adolescents between the ages of 12 and 19. Three groups, though, have a greater risk of sustaining a serious injury or dying in a car crash than their peers.
1. Boys
While teenagers tend to take more risks than children of other ages or adults, boys may engage in risky behaviors more often than girls. Unfortunately, according to statistics from the CDC, in 2018, the fatality rate for male drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 was twice as high as it was for girls in the same age group.
2. New drivers
Experience often leads to competency for teen drivers. It should come as little surprise that newly licensed teens have a greater car accident risk than those who have been driving for a while. Consequently, a 16-year-old teenager probably has a better chance of having a crash than his or her 19-year-old sibling.
3. Multiple teens
Distracted driving is dangerous at any age. If your teen drives with other teens as passengers, he or she may lose focus and have a car accident. In fact, accident risk increases with each additional teen your young one adds to the vehicle.
Ultimately, prohibiting your teen from driving with other teens may be your best strategy for keeping your son or daughter safe on the road.