Hand-me-downs can be great
for passing on many possessions but if you are a parent of a teenager, you
might want to reconsider passing on your old broken down vehicle. According to
a study, older vehicles driven by freshly licensed 15, 16, and 17-year-olds
were involved in nearly half of all fatal teen car accidents. The study
analyzed an approximate 2,400 teens between 2008 and 2012 and involves cars
that are at least a decade old.
The reason for these
statistics has to do with the lack of safety in these vehicles. Older vehicles
are not equipped with the high-tech features of today’s cars, such as airbags,
electronic stability control and proper seatbelts.
It is especially important
for new teen drivers to be equipped with these safety standards because of
their lack of driving experience. According to the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, the risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among
16-19-year-olds than among any other age group. They are also nearly three
times more likely than drivers aged 20 and older to be in a fatal crash.
“Given teenagers’ elevated
crash rates, it is especially important that their vehicles have key safety
features and good crash protection,” said the abstract, published in the
journal Injury Prevention. “Parents
should consider safety when choosing vehicles for their teenagers.
However, this is not to say
that you should necessarily go and get a brand new vehicle for your teenager.
We know that’s not in every parents’ budget and also not a super smart idea
because regardless if the vehicle is old or not, teenagers simply have a higher
risk of getting into an accident. In fact, in a national survey conducted by
the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that 83 percent of parents
with teen drivers bought used vehicles instead of new. The important thing is
that no matter the vehicle your teenager drives, that it meets important safety
standards.
The institute recommends
newly licensed teens to drive cars that don’t have much horsepower. “More
powerful engines can tempt them to test the limits,” according to the IIHS.
They also recommend a bigger vehicle because they are safer than tiny fuel-friendly
cars. And electronic stability control is essential because it enables drivers
to control their vehicle around curves and wet conditions. Basically, parents
should just make sure their teen gets the most safety that they can afford and teach
them well about safety on the road.
If
you or someone you know has been involved in a car crash or truck accident in
Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren, Sterling Heights, Lansing, Flint, Ann Arbor,
Livonia, Dearborn, Canton, Westland, Troy, Farmington Hills, Southfield,
Waterford or any other city in Michigan, make sure to contact Motor City
Accident Attorneys by calling 1-800-411-PAIN. Motor City Accident Attorneys
know how stressful a car accident can be and want to help you get back on your
feet. They will fight tirelessly for your rights and help you get the
compensation you deserve, according to your specific case. Make sure to follow
Motor City Accident Attorneys on Twitter (@MCAccidentAtty) and Facebook. Join
the conversation by using #MCAA.
