10 Jan Keeping your Teen Driver Safe

January is Teen Driving Awareness Month. Teen drivers are often inexperienced and don’t realize how dangerous driving can be. Reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2011 about 2,650 teens in the United States aged 16–19 were killed and almost 292,000 were treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor-vehicle crashes. Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of death for teen drivers. Overcrowded vehicles, drinking, noisy passengers, and cellphones can all be contributed to distracted driving. Texting while driving has caused a major increase in crashes not only in teen drivers, but adult drivers as well. All drivers should be aware of the consequences of texting while driving. At least 39 states, including North Carolina have banned drivers from texting.

According to the Highway Patrol, drivers under the age of 18 with provisional licenses are prohibited from using cell phones (handheld or hands free). For some it is very tempting to pick up a cell phone as soon as a message arrives. You are not only putting yourself at risk, but also your passengers and other drivers. Educate your teen drivers on the importance of being safe while driving. Inform your teen driver to always wear their seatbelt and obey the laws of the road. With 2015 just beginning, make sure your teen driver has the right auto insurance policy to protect them. If a teen driver violates any laws and receives a ticket your insurance costs will increase. Call Spivey Insurance Group today at 704-821-4460 to make sure your teen driver is properly insured.

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