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June 13, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment

Teen Drivers: Fact Sheet

Transportation_GirlDrivingCoolCarMotor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens.1 In 2010, seven teens ages 16 to 19 died every day from motor vehicle injuries. Per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are three times more likely than drivers aged 20 and older to be in a fatal crash.2Fortunately, teen motor vehicle crashes are preventable, and proven strategies can improve the safety of young drivers on the road.

How big is the problem?

In 2010, about 2,700 teens in the United States aged 16–19 were killed and almost 282,000 were treated and released from emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor-vehicle crashes.1

Young people ages 15-24 represent only 14% of the U.S. population. However, they account for 30% ($19 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among males and 28% ($7 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among females.3

Who is most at risk?

The risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among 16- to 19-year-olds than among any other age group. In fact, per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are three times more likely than drivers aged 20 and older to be in a fatal crash.2

Among teen drivers, those at especially high risk for motor vehicle crashes are:

  • Males: In 2010, the motor vehicle death rate for male drivers and passengers ages 16 to 19 was almost two times that of their female counterparts.1
  • Teens driving with teen passengers: The presence of teen passengers increases the crash risk of unsupervised teen drivers. This risk increases with the number of teen passengers.4
  • Newly licensed teens: Crash risk is particularly high during the first months of licensure.5,6

What factors put teen drivers at risk?

    • Teens are more likely than older drivers to underestimate dangerous situations or not be able to recognize hazardous situations.7
    • Teens are more likely than older drivers to speed and allow shorter headways (the distance from the front of one vehicle to the front of the next). The presence of male teenage passengers increases the likelihood of this risky driving behavior.8
    • Among male drivers between 15 and 20 years of age who were involved in fatal crashes in 2010, 39% were speeding at the time of the crash9 and 25% had been drinking.10
    • Compared with other age groups, teens have the lowest rate of seat belt use. In 2011, only 54% of high school students reported they always wear seat belts when riding with someone else.11
    • At all levels of blood alcohol concentration (BAC), the risk of involvement in a motor vehicle crash is greater for teens than for older drivers.12
    • In 2010, 22% of drivers aged 15 to 20 involved in fatal motor vehicle crashes were drinking.10
      • In a national survey conducted in 2011, 24% of teens reported that, within the previous month, they had ridden with a driver who had been drinking alcohol and 8% reported having driven after drinking alcohol within the same one-month period.13
      • In 2010, 56% of drivers aged 15 to 20 were killed in motor vehicle crashes after drinking and driving were not wearing a seat belt.10
      • In 2010, half of teen deaths from motor vehicle crashes occurred between 3 p.m. and midnight and 55% occurred on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.2

How can deaths and injuries resulting from crashes involving teen drivers be prevented?

There are proven methods to helping teens become safer drivers. Research suggests that the most comprehensive graduated drivers licensing (GDL) programs are associated with reductions of 38% and 40% in fatal and injury crashes, respectively, among 16-year-old drivers.14

Graduated driver licensing (GDL) systems are designed to delay full licensure while allowing teens to get their initial driving experience under low-risk conditions.

When parents know their state’s GDL laws, they can help enforce the laws and, in effect, help keep their teen drivers safe.

Resources

Graduated Drivers Licensing Toolkit Adobe PDF fileExternal Web Site Icon (order a copy online)
In this Healthy States tool kit, users can find out more about GDL systems, why GDL laws are needed, and what state legislators can do to improve state GDL laws.

Graduated Driver Licensing Research, 2010-PresentExternal Web Site Icon
This is the latest in a series of reviews of research on graduated driver licensing (GDL) published in the Journal of Safety Research, covering the period January 1, 2010-June 1, 2012 and works in progress.

Graduated Drivers Licensing Fact SheetsExternal Web Site Icon (from the 2007 International Symposium on Novice Teen Driving: GDL and Beyond)
The National Safety Council, with sponsorship from the CDC, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the GEICO Foundation, Nationwide Insurance, General Motors Corporation, and State Farm Insurance, held the second International Symposium on Novice Teen Driving in February 2007. These fact sheets summarize the current scientific findings on Graduated Driver Licensing that were presented at the Symposium in February. Information in the fact sheets is based on papers written by Symposium presenters and published in the April 2007 GDL Special Issue of theJournal of Safety Research.

The Guide to Community Preventive ServicesExternal Web Site Icon
This online guide offers recommendations about motor vehicle injury prevention issued by the Task Force on Community Preventive Services.

Parents Are The Key to Safe Teen Drivers
Through the “Parents Are the Key” campaign, CDC offers parents tools and proven steps for reducing teen driving injuries and deaths. Businesses and other groups can also help keep young drivers safe by spreading campaign message through posters, fact sheets, social media tools, and more.

References

    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) [Online]. (2012). National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (producer). [Cited 2012 Sept 28].
    2. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Fatality facts: teenagers 2010External Web Site Icon. Arlington (VA): The Institute; 2012 [cited 2012 Sept 28]. http://www.iihs.org/research/fatality.aspx?topicName=Teenagers&year=2010External Web Site Icon
    3. Finkelstein EA, Corso PS, Miller TR, Associates. Incidence and Economic Burden of Injuries in the United States. New York: Oxford University Press; 2006.
    4. Chen L, Baker SP, Braver ER, Li G. Carrying passengers as a risk factor for crashes fatal to 16- and 17-year old drivers. JAMA 2000;283(12):1578–82. http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=192524
    5. Mayhew, D.R.; Simpson, H.M.; and Pak, A. 2003. Changes in collision rates among novice drivers during the first months of driving.Accident Analysis and Prevention 35:683-91.
    6. McCartt, A.T.; Shabanova, V.I. and Leaf, W.A. 2003. Driving experiences, crashes, and teenage beginning drivers. Accident Analysis and Prevention 35:311-20.
    7. Jonah BA, Dawson NE. Youth and risk: age differences in risky driving, risk perception, and risk utility. Alcohol, Drugs and Driving 1987;3:13–29.
    8. Simons-Morton B, Lerner N, Singer J. The observed effects of teenage passengers on the risky driving behavior of teenage drivers. Accident Analysis and Prevention 2005;37(6):973-82.
    9. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Dept. of Transportation (US).Traffic safety facts 2010: Speeding Adobe PDF fileExternal Web Site Icon. Washington (DC): NHTSA; August 2012 [cited 2012 Sept 28].
    10. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Dept. of Transportation (US).Traffic safety facts 2010: Young Drivers Adobe PDF fileExternal Web Site Icon. Washington (DC): NHTSA; May 2012 [cited 2012 Sept 28 ].
    11. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System 2011 YRBS Data User’s Guide [Online]. (2012). National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Division of Adolescent and School Health (producer). [Cited 2012 Oct 1].ftp://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/data/yrbs/2011/YRBS_2011_National_User_Guide.pdf  Adobe PDF file
    12. Voas RB, Torres P, Romano E, Lacey JH. Alcohol-related risk of driver fatalities: an update using 2007 data. J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2012 May;73(3):341-50.
    13. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 2011 [Online]. (2012). MMWR 2012; 61(4). [Cited 2012 Sept 28 ].
    14. Baker SP, Chen L, Li G. Nationwide review of graduated driver licensing. Washington (DC): AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety; 2007.http://www.aaafoundation.org/pdf/NationwideReviewOfGDL.pdf Adobe PDF fileExternal Web Site Icon

 

Source: CDC, “Teen Drivers: Fact Sheet” http://www.cdc.gov website. Accessed November 24, 2015. http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/teen_drivers/teendrivers_factsheet.html

© Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.

Filed Under: Auto, Personal, Personal Protection, Teenagers, Theme 2

May 16, 2014 By Julian Aston Leave a Comment

IN: Tips For Keeping Your Teen Driver Safe

Dear Valued Customer,

According to the National Safety Council, the sad truth is that every day, more than 10 young drivers between 15 and 20 years old are killed in crashes, and another 745 are injured.

In this issue of the “————” we focus on protecting your teen driver. Read on to find out the types of cars which are safer for your teen to drive, the risky behavior you can discourage; speeding, cell phones, text messaging, etc. Last, but not least, read expert tips for keeping your teen driver safe, to help safeguard your teenager from a crucial, even fatal, driving error.

We appreciate your continued business and look forward to serving you.

Kind regards,

Filed Under: Auto, Personal, Personal Protection, Teenagers, Theme 2

May 16, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment

Teenagers and Safe Cars

If your teenager has just gotten a driver’s license, it may be hard to imagine handing over the keys to your brand new car, but that may be the smartest vehicle to choose.

The first years teenagers spend as drivers are very risky. In fact, teen drivers have the highest death rates of any age group. In 1997 alone, more than 5,700 teenagers died in motor vehicle crashes, and many more were left severely and permanently injured by crashes.

While getting a driver’s license is an exciting rite-of-passage for teens, it can be enough to make a parent frantic. However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) say there is something worried parents can do to protect their teens—choose a safe vehicle.

  • Avoid vehicles that encourage reckless driving. Teen drivers not only lack experience, but may also lack maturity. As a result, speeding and reckless driving are common. Sports cars and other vehicles with high performance features, such as turbocharging, are likely to encourage speeding. Choosing a vehicle with a more sedate image will reduce the chances your teen will be in a speed-related crash.
  • Don’t let your teen drive an unstable vehicle. Sport utility vehicles, especially the smaller ones, are inherently less stable than cars because of their higher centers of gravity. Abrupt steering maneuvers—the kind that can occur when teens are fooling around or over-correcting a driver error—can cause rollovers where a more stable car would, at worst, skid or spin out.
  • Pick a vehicle that offers good crash protection. Teenagers should drive vehicles that offer state-of-the-art protection in case they do crash.
  • Don’t let your teen drive a small vehicle. Small vehicles offer much less protection in crashes than larger ones. However, this doesn’t mean you should put your child in the largest vehicle you can find. Many mid- and full-size cars offer more than adequate crash protection. Check out the safety ratings for mid-size and larger cars.
  • Avoid older vehicles. Most of today’s cars are better designed for crash protection than cars of six to ten years ago. For example, a newer, mid-size car with airbags would be a better choice than an older, larger car without airbags. Before you make a final choice on the car your teenager will drive, consult the U.S. Department of Transportationor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Source: Insurance Information Institute, “Teenagers and Safe Cars,” iii.org website. Accessed May 23, 2014.

© Copyright 2014 intouch Business, Inc. All rights reserved. Certain names and articles used with permission of owners. Trade names mentioned herein are owned by third parties.

Filed Under: Car, Theme 2

May 16, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment

Teenagers & Safe Cars

People_LeasingCarIf your teenager has just gotten a driver’s license, it may be hard to imagine handing over the keys to your brand new car, but that may be the smartest vehicle to choose.

The first years teenagers spend as drivers are very risky. In fact, teen drivers have the highest death rates of any age group. In 1997 alone, more than 5,700 teenagers died in motor vehicle crashes, and many more were left severely and permanently injured by crashes.

While getting a driver’s license is an exciting rite-of-passage for teens, it can be enough to make a parent frantic. However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) say there is something worried parents can do to protect their teens—choose a safe vehicle.

  • Avoid vehicles that encourage reckless driving. Teen drivers not only lack experience, but may also lack maturity. As a result, speeding and reckless driving are common. Sports cars and other vehicles with high performance features, such as turbocharging, are likely to encourage speeding. Choosing a vehicle with a more sedate image will reduce the chances your teen will be in a speed-related crash.
  • Don’t let your teen drive an unstable vehicle. Sport utility vehicles, especially the smaller ones, are inherently less stable than cars because of their higher centers of gravity. Abrupt steering maneuvers—the kind that can occur when teens are fooling around or over-correcting a driver error—can cause rollovers where a more stable car would, at worst, skid or spin out.
  • Pick a vehicle that offers good crash protection. Teenagers should drive vehicles that offer state-of-the-art protection in case they do crash.
  • Don’t let your teen drive a small vehicle. Small vehicles offer much less protection in crashes than larger ones. However, this doesn’t mean you should put your child in the largest vehicle you can find. Many mid- and full-size cars offer more than adequate crash protection. Check out the safety ratings for mid-size and larger cars.
  • Avoid older vehicles. Most of today’s cars are better designed for crash protection than cars of six to ten years ago. For example, a newer, mid-size car with airbags would be a better choice than an older, larger car without airbags. Before you make a final choice on the car your teenager will drive, consult the U.S. Department of Transportationor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Source: Insurance Information Institute, “Teenagers and Safe Cars,” iii.org website. Accessed November 24, 2015.

© Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.

Filed Under: Auto, Personal, Personal Protection, Teenagers, Theme 2

May 16, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment

Parent Program to teach Teens how to Drive

UNSURE ABOUT THIS ONE

Parents Play the Most Important Role in their Teens’ learning-to-drive Process

Alive at 25® Parent Program Online

To properly prepare teens to drive, parents must have a clear understanding of the risks they face. That’s why the National Safety Council developed Alive at 25® Parent Program. The 2-hour online program identify those risks, and help parents reinforce good driving skills and decision-making to them become safe and responsible drivers.

Parents will learn to:

Get involved in training their teens to drive safely and responsibly. Encourage the parent/teen partnership from learning to drive through independent driving. Offer practical solutions to reduce the risks and hazards teen drivers face and help their teens to understand the need for defensive driver training. Examine how to approach Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws, and those related to safety belts, speeding, and alcohol and drugs. Provide an example of an effective parent/teen driver contract and discuss the importance of using the contract to manage teens’ driving experience.

This highly interactive program provides an overview of the importance of graduated driving laws, relevant facts and statistics, and strategies to help keep teenage drivers safe. The useful bookmark feature allows parents to interrupt then continue the course as their schedules allow. Also includes a resource center, with printable materials.

It’s an easy way to raise funds for your school or PTO/PTA with NO administration on your part! Just post a link on your website that will take participants to the Alive at 25® Parent Program Online course. For every individual who enrolls in the course (using a special referral code), your school or organization will receive $5!

We make it simple to start and maintenance free:

 

-No program administration

-No start-up fees

-No operating costs

-No donations to solicit and nothing to sell

-Cancel the program at any time

-We’ll even help with the marketing

 

To get started:

Complete this short online form or call (800) 621-7619

Download a PDF of FAQs on how it works

Filed Under: Car, Theme 2

May 16, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment

Safety Tips For Every Teen Driver

Do you remember your first year’s driving? Did you know that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 15- to 20-year-olds? Research shows that more than half of teens who die in crashes are passengers, most were not wearing a seatbelt.

The two factors to the high crash rate in teens are immaturity and lack of driving experience. Teens tend to engage in risky behavior—eating, text messaging, talking to friends in the car—and often without wearing their seatbelts.

How does a parent ensure the safety of their inexperienced teenage driver? The Insurance Information Institute recommends parents take the following steps.

Pick a Safe Car

You and your teenager are encouraged to choose a car that is easy to drive and offer protection in a crash. Avoid small cars and those with high performance images that might encourage speed. Trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) should also be avoided, since they are more prone to rollovers.

Sign Up for a Drivers Education Course

The more driving practice the better; experience will give your teen confidence behind the wheel. A teen who has learned to drive through a education course is viewed more favorably by insurers and can earn a discount. In some states, teens must take a drivers education course to get a license at age 16. 

Enroll Your Teen in a Safe Driver Program

Check whether your insurance company offers a “safe driver” program. Teen participants sign parent-teen driving contracts that outline the driver’s responsibilities and the consequences of failure to meet expectations. If your teenager completes the program, you may be eligible for a discount.

Insurance companies are helping to reduce the number of accidents by subsidizing the cost of electronic devices, such as GPS systems, which can monitor the way teens drive and alert parents of unsafe driving.

Discuss the Dangers of Drug and Alcohol Use

Advise teens never to drink or do drugs, and not to get in a car if the driver has used drugs or alcohol. Encourage your teen to call you to ensure they have a safe way home.

Understand the Dangers of Distracted Driving

Talk to your teen about the importance of never phoning or texting while driving. Teens should also be responsible passengers when in their friends’ cars. New drivers should wait 1,000 miles or six months before picking up their first teen passenger.

Enroll Your Teen in a Graduated Drivers License Program

Many states have been successful in reducing teen accidents by enacting graduated drivers license (GDL) legislation. These laws, include a three-phase program, allowing teen drivers to gain more experience behind the wheel. New drivers are restricted from certain activities, such as late-night driving, until they have had their licenses for a set period. For more information on GDLs, visit www.iihs.org.

Parents should take an active role in their teenagers’ driving and expose them to driving in a variety of conditions to build experience. Allow independent driving only after continued practice, including night driving and driving in difficult weather.

Keep in mind, teens may not get to the appropriate level of maturity to handle a drivers license at the same time. Parents should consider whether teens are easily distracted, nervous or risk takers before allowing them to get a license.

Filed Under: Auto, Personal, Personal Protection, Teenagers, Theme 2

May 14, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment

Top 10 Safety Tips for Parents of Teens

The best way to keep young drivers safe is to start with a well-maintained, properly equipped vehicle. To guide you in that task, we’ve created 10 of the best tips that will assist in letting your teens make smarter decisions, and help parents protect themselves.

1. Re-tire the car with new tires and make sure they’re properly inflated. If the tires have miles on them, be certain to check the remaining tread depth. Underinflated new tires perform almost as poorly as bald tires. Make sure your tires are inflated per the manufacturer’s recommendations.

2. Make sure the brakes work properly. This involves more than checking the thickness of brake pads. If the old fluid is black or contains flecks of rubber or rust, a professional rebuild is required. Ask a pro to make sure the brake discs, brake lines and antilock braking system are in top condition.

3. Steer the right path.
Take your student’s car to a professional to make sure the steering and suspension systems are in good shape. Worn bushings or ball joints will quickly wear out those new tires and the car will steer imprecisely.

4. It’s impossible to avoid hazards if you can’t see. The windshields of older cars are frequently pitted by sand and salt and may become opaque in some lighting. What does the windshield on your student’s car look like? Depending on its condition, investing in a new one may be a smart move.

5. If your student’s car doesn’t have a built-in GPS-based navigation system, invest in a portable model. Typically, these may be mounted to the windshield or dash. Such satellite-based GPS devices are relatively inexpensive and increase safety.

6. Drinking and driving while intoxicated are common among underage high school. Additionally, a DUI conviction means a suspended license, so remind your student they’ll be stuck riding the bus.

7. Protect yourself & get adequate insurance coverage. Keep in mind that in many states, you’ll be held financially responsible for your minor children if the minor is involved in an accident while driving your car.

8. Be prepared.
Put together an emergency roadside kit. At the minimum, fill a backpack with a flashlight, road flares, a reflective triangle, a space blanket, radiator stop-leak, a fire extinguisher, aerosol tire inflator, duct tape and a pair of old sneakers.

9. A disturbing trend is teens loaning out their car. Keep in mind that if an accident occurs with another child at the wheel, you could be sued. Let your student know that if they loan out the car one time, he or she will be bicycling for the rest of the term.

10. Many college students must rent or borrow a trailer to get all their stuff to school. Safe trailer towing requires the proper hardware and a skilled driver. Some makers of SUVs require brakes on the trailer if the gross weight of the trailer — the trailer and all the stuff inside — exceeds 1,000 pounds.

Filed Under: Car, Theme 2

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