Resources to Share with Your Teen During Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April

The month of April has been designated as Distracted Driving Awareness Month and safety experts will be offering information and resources perfect for sharing with your teenager.

In general, a teenager’s lack of maturity and experience behind the wheel puts them at an increased risk for car accidents and injuries. In addition to their tendency to show off for their friends and not knowing how to properly respond when emergency situations arise, they are also more likely to be distracted by their phones and by passengers in the vehicle. During the month of April, which has been designated nationwide as Distracted Driving Awareness Month, law enforcement and traffic safety officials will be providing information and resources that you can share with your teen, to help make them aware of the risks.

Distracted Driving and Teens

According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) one out of every five car accidents in the state is the result of drivers who fail to pay attention to the road while behind the wheel. Distracted driving is responsible for as many as 110,000 car accidents each year, injuring more than 3,000 drivers and passengers and proving fatal for over 450 others.

Teenagers in general are the most at risk for serious and potentially life threatening crashes and collisions, and they are also the age group most likely to engage in distracted driving. In addition to talking or texting on cell phones, common distractions among teens include:

• Taking pictures and videos;
• Using their phones and other electronic devices to post on social media;
• Eating fast food while driving;
• Putting on makeup or checking their appearance in the rearview mirror;
• Talking to friends and engaging with other drivers;
• Changing car stereo settings;
• Reaching for items that may have fallen or are in the backseat;
• Drinking or using drugs while behind the wheel.

Talking to Your Teen About Distracted Driving

As parents, you can help protect your teen against distracted driving car accidents by modeling good behavior, making them aware of the potential dangers, and sharing resources available throughout the month from safety officials. The National Safety Council (NSC) offers infographics and memes to share with your child on social media, along with a distracted driving pledge that you can download and have your teen sign. It affirms their intention to keep their eyes on the road, their hands on the wheel, and to pay attention to the task of driving by turning off their cellphones, not responding to texts, and refraining from any activity that could put them or others at risk.

Contact Us Today for Help

If you or someone you care about is involved in a distracted driving accident, the Lovett Law Firm is here to provide the professional legal representation you need. Reach out and contact our Texas and New Mexico car accident attorneys and request a free initial consultation to discuss your case and how we may be able to help you get compensation for your injuries.