by
David Muir
| Aug 29, 2011
Did you know... a teen driver is more likely to crash a car within their first year of getting their drivers license. You will be surprised to know that show boating and aggressive driving are not the primary culprits in these accidents-driver errors are.
A study by The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and State Farm identifies the most common errors that teens make while driving. The study found that these three critical errors played a role in nearly half of all serious accidents that involve teenaged drivers:
Lack of Ability to Recognize Hazardous Situations. Most new drivers don’t scan their surroundings frequently to detect and respond to hazards-and they’re particularly vulnerable when driving at night.
Driving Too Fast for Road Conditions. Teens often overestimate their driving abilities and drive mcuh faster than they should to negotiate curves or stopping safely.
Distractions. Playing loud music, talking on cell phones, and texting are dangerous distractions for drivers. But the distraction of friends in the car may be greater: The overall risk of a car crash more than doubles when a teenager has one peer in the vehicle and triples when there are two or more friends on board.
Addressing common errors and promoting safe driving skills may be the keys to reducing the number of crashes involving teen drivers. Parents and other adults can make a difference in their teen’s driving practices by supervising driving under different conditions, reinforcing decision-making skills, and setting expectations for the teen’s use of the car. In addition, 46 states and the District of Columbia have now adopted Graduated Driver Licensing programs. These staged licenses give teens the opportunity to gain driving experience while limiting their exposure to higher risk situations, and are proven to reduce the number of crashes involving teen drivers.
If you have a teen driver in your home, it is important to teach them these safety tips. If you have them on your insurance policy, shop around for the most competitive rates. Insurance for a teen driver can set you back a few dollars. You might consider other ways to save to offset that additional expense. One way to do so is to
refinance a car loan.
Auto refinance is a relatively new loan product but can provide a significant savings in your car loan payments. Many online lenders now offer a no obligation quote so you can apply and see the potential savings before having to commit to the loan.
These can be trying times for parents when their teenage is behind the wheel. Teach them safety rules early on and you will be sure to sleep better at night when they are in the family car.