Woodstock Car Accidents Attorney a Summer Danger for Teens

Safety advocates are looking at state traffic laws and preaching caution in the wake of a tragic Georgia car accident that claimed the life of a 17-year-old student, ABC6 reported.

Our Woodstock car accident attorneys remind parents to speak to their teens about the importance of safe driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Mother’s Against Drunk Driving has dubbed summer the “100 Deadliest Days” for teen accidents. Nine out of the 10 deadliest days for young drivers fall between Memorial Day and Labor Day. An average of 16 teens a day are killed in summer car accidents — twice the average during the rest of the year.

In this case, the 2011 Evans High graduate was on Old Belair Lane in an SUV with six passengers when the 16-year-old driver reportedly lost control and struck a tree. She could face charges for violating a state law limiting the number of passengers permitted to ride with a teen driver. Georgia law does not permit a driver to carry passengers for the first six month after turning 16 — unless the passenger is a family member over the age of 21. After six months, the legal limit is one passenger under the age of 21.

And that’s with good reason. An excessive number of passengers is just one of the distractions prone to getting teen drivers into trouble. They are also more likely to use a cell phone or text message while driving or to engage in other forms of driver distraction, including eating, drinking, grooming, or messing around with in-car electronics.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports car accidents are the leading cause of death among teenagers. That means your teen is more likely to die in a car accident than by any other means. And most likely to be involved in a serious or fatal crash between now and Labor Day.

If you haven’t done so already, it’s certainly time to have a serious talk.

MADD reports 3,000 teens ages 15 to 19 died in car accidents in 2009 and more than 350,000 were injured. The U.S. Department of Transportation reports Georgia car accidents involving young drivers claimed 149 lives in 2009 — two thirds of those victims were young drivers or passengers in a young driver’s vehicle.

Summer Teen Safe Driving Tips Include:

• Zero tolerance for drinking and driving.
• Insist upon seat belt use. Teens have the lowest usage rate, which contributes to serious or fatal injuries in the event of an accident.
• Ban the use of electronic devices, including cell phones, while driving.
• Limit night driving, when accidents are most likely to occur.
• Enter into a safe driving contract with your teen.

Visit the Department of Driving Services for additional information on teen safe driving in Georgia.

If you are injured in an accident, contact the North Georgia Personal Injury Attorneys at Casey W. Stevens Law: Alpharetta Personal Injury and Car Accident Lawyers. Call 877-217-7230 for a free case evaluation.