Teens in New Jersey are often anxious to get their driver’s licenses. Although finally being able to drive is liberating, teen drivers face certain risks. These can increase the chances that they get into an accident.
Male drivers
Being male is one of the biggest risk factors for teen drivers. Male drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 face more than double the risk of death in a serious car accident compared to female drivers of the same age group.
Inexperience
Driver inexperience can create a disastrous situation for teens. Unlike seasoned adult drivers, certain situations might lead to confusion as they don’t know how to react or safely maneuver their vehicles to avoid a collision. Teen drivers usually lack the fast thinking needed in complex situations on the road.
Driving with young passengers
If a teen driver has friends in the car, it can create a problem and increase the risk of an accident. Unfortunately, the more teen or young adult passengers in the vehicle, the more likely it is for a deadly crash to occur. This could be due to peer pressure and the urge to take more risks.
Distracted driving
Distracted driving can be deadly for anyone, but it’s particularly dangerous when a teen is at the wheel. Teen drivers are more likely to reach for their phones and engage in certain behaviors that take their attention off their driving. Texting is one of the most common ways that teen drivers become distracted.
Speeding
Speeding is one of the worst habits for teen drivers. It creates a huge problem for everyone on the road as the speeder can easily lose control of their driving and crash. Many fatal accidents involving teen drivers are due to speeding.
It’s your responsibility as a parent to teach your child about being responsible while driving.