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Like many parents, you may worry about the safety of your teen driver whenever he or she hits the road. As a new study reveals, parents in some states may have more reason to be concerned about the risk of their teen getting into a car accident than those in other areas of the country.
WalletHub recently released its list of the “Best and Worst States for Teen Drivers.” The personal finance website based its rankings on analysis of factors that fell within three categories:
- Safety conditions – This category took into account the number of teen driver fatalities per 100,000 teens, vehicle miles traveled per capita, the number of teen drunk driving citations and the quality of the state’s roads.
- Economic environment – This category included the maximum cost of speeding, red light and seat-belt violation tickets and the average cost of car repairs and premium increases after adding a teen driver to one’s auto insurance policy.
- Driving laws – This category looked at each state’s graduated driver’s licensing program as well as its occupant protection, impaired driving, distracted driving / texting while driving, red light and speeding camera laws.
Virginia placed No. 14 overall on WalletHub’s list based on how the state ranked in each of the above categories: Safety conditions (No. 9), economic environment (No. 34) and driving laws (No. 21).
New York, Oregon, Delaware, Illinois and Hawaii topped the list, while South Dakota, Wyoming, North Dakota, Montana and Nebraska were at the bottom.
Talk to Your Teen About Safe Driving in Virginia
The WalletHub study should serve as a reminder about the need to talk with your teen about the risks that he or she faces when driving. Pass on the insights and knowledge that you have gained from your many years of experience of being behind the wheel. Discuss the practical, common sense practices that your teen should follow in order to reduce his or her risk of getting into a crash. Those practices include:
- Never drive while distracted by activities such as talking on a cell phone, texting, playing with the radio, eating, drinking or interacting with other passengers. (See our Reckless Racer game to get a better idea of how dangerous distracted driving can be for drivers of any age.)
- Never driver after drinking alcohol (or allow others to drink and drive).
- Never speed by driving faster than the posted speed limit or going too fast for road, traffic and weather conditions.
- Always keep a cool head when behind the wheel (don’t drive aggressively).
Additionally, remind your teen driver to always buckle up. Wearing a seat belt is not only a legal requirement in Virginia – it can save your teen’s life if an accident ever occurs.
Our Experienced Charlottesville, Winchester & Harrisonburg Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You
We suggest that you check out our Car Accident Glove Box Guide and ask your teen to keep a copy in the car with him or her. The guide provides helpful guidance on what to do in the immediate aftermath of a crash.
If your teen has been involved in an accident in Charlottesville, Winchester, Harrisonburg or a nearby area in Virginia, please contact us and receive a free consultation about your case. We can review what happened, explain your legal rights and explore all options that may be available for seeking full and fair compensation for your losses.