As summer temperatures rise, so do teen car accidents
Teenagers look forward to summer vacation. Many are out of school and have more time to hang out with friends. Teens who drive also spend more time on the road during summer months. Unfortunately, the span from Memorial Day to Labor Day is the most dangerous period of the year for teenage drivers.
If the summer of 2017 follows the trend of recent years, approximately 1,000 people will be killed in car accidents involving teen drivers. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that an average of 1,022 people died each year from 2010 to 2015 during the 100 days from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Many of those killed were young people.
Driver distractions such as talking on a cell phone, texting or talking to passengers contributed to more than half of collisions.
In New Mexico, it is illegal for young inexperienced drivers to send text message or talk on a cell phone while driving because these activities increase the risk of a crash.
Drunk Driving Statistics During the Summer
During the summer, teenage drivers are heading to summer jobs or friends’ homes, parks or other recreational destinations that may require them to drive on unfamiliar roads.
Summer is synonymous with cook outs. Not surprisingly, the number of drinking and driving accidents rises during the summer, with July 4th ranking as the deadliest day of the year for car accidents, according to BACTrack.
A 2016 report by CarInsuranceComparison.com ranked New Mexico drivers as the 11th worst in the nation for alcohol-related accidents. Alcohol was involved in more than a third of New Mexico’s fatal crashes in 2015.
Staying Safe on the Road This Summer
It is illegal for New Mexican under age 21 to consume alcohol. As a parent, you can take steps to keep yourself and others safe on the road this summer by choosing not to drive if you have been drinking. Take a taxi, use a rideshare services or opt to ride with a designated driver.
Talking to your Teen About Safe Driving
It is important for parents to be actively engaged when their teens are learning to drive. As the parent of a teenage driver, it is important for you to model safe driving behavior and to impress upon your son or daughter the dangers of driving drunk and distracted driving.
Talk to your child about distracted driving and drunk driving and brainstorm strategies that he or she can use to avoid these behaviors such as setting up an Uber account on his or her phone or disabling his or her phone while the car is turned on.
Work with an Experienced New Mexico Car Accident Lawyer
Hurt? Call Bert. If you have been injured in a collision caused by another driver, you may have the right to seek compensation for your damages by filing a personal injury claim. Parnall Law has the experience and knowledge to help accident victims recover from serious accidents in Albuquerque and throughout New Mexico. To learn more, contact our team of experienced car accident lawyers at Parnall Law Firm to set up your initial consultation.
