Driving report cards
In a report published by USA Today, General Motors engineer Mary Ann Beebe said that driving report cards are for teens to help them develop safe-driving habits. This report card feature is optional, and it will be installed on certain 2016 Chevrolet Malibu models later in 2015. The technology installed in the cars will be able to compile report cards and alert parents about their teen’s driving behaviors.
Apart from that, Ford and GM have a safety system of their own. Their systems will be able to set the limit for the volume of music playing in the vehicle. Urgent.ly co-founder Rick Robinson, meanwhile, said that their new accident detection service gives a great deal of peace of mind to parents.
Teen driving statistics
Motor vehicle-related accidents continue to be the number one cause of death among U.S. teenagers. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety stated that the fatal crash rate per mile driven for 16 to 19-year-olds is nearly three times greater than for drivers ages 20 and over. They also stated that drivers ages 16 to 17-years-old are the ones most at risk. These figures were reported in 2013 but are still apparent today.
In a report by the personal finance site WalletHub, Kentucky was ranked with the worst teen driver fatality rate in 2015. WalletHub adds that 15 to 24-year-olds account for almost a third of all costs resulting from motor vehicle injuries. That age group makes up only 14% of the population. Below is a list of factors that contribute to young driver accidents, as per Kentucky Office of Highway Safety:
- Lack of driving experience and inadequate driving skills
- Driver distraction and inattention
- Not wearing or properly wearing their seat belt
- Impaired driving
- Speeding and aggressive driving
Driving is a privilege, not a right
Being able to drive is a right of passage for teens. Driving is not a right. Parents and guardians need to make sure that their young driver is ready before sending them out on the road. Be sure to check out the Kentucky Graduated Driver’s License Program. This program aims to reduce the overall number of crashes involving teen drivers.
As a Kentucky Accident Attorney, I am glad that several organizations are working with parents to ensure teen driving safety. Young drivers, however, play an important role, too. Their cooperation is necessary. Please remind your teen driver to always properly wear their seat belts, keep both eyes on the road and both hands on the steering wheel, put any form of distraction away before starting their car and refrain from taking passengers in their car. This will help keep them safe as they learn how to drive.
Do you have young drivers at home? How do you talk to them about safe driving habits?