Motor vehicle safety experts generally consider the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day to be the most dangerous part of the year for teenage drivers. With this in mind, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office is taking additional precautions to protect these less experienced motorists.
According to law enforcement, the increase in crashes and accidents among teen drivers over the summer is simply due to there being more young drivers on the road, as there’s no school in session. Many crashes involving teen drivers involve speeding, distracted driving and drinking.
Although many teens do have summer jobs, there is certainly an influx of drivers hitting the roads during the summer months, especially around the beaches of Florida. The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office is focused on encouraging parents to educate their drivers and to get them involved in the Teen Driver Challenge Program. This program is a simple course that educates young drivers on some of the dynamics of their cars. It’s the same program that new recruits for law enforcement go through.
Talk to your teen drivers about road safety
For parents who have teenage drivers, it is important to have frank discussions about vehicle safety. In this age of constant smartphone use, it is crucial to emphasize just how dangerous it is to drive while texting or using the phone. It is also important to let your children know that if they have been drinking, they should never get behind the wheel. It is more important for them to preserve their safety than it is to try to get away with underage drinking.
If you have a child who has been involved in an auto accident, speak with a skilled Sarasota personal injury attorney at Goldman Babboni Fernandez & Walsh right away.