GEICO offers parents safe driving tips for their teens

WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–GEICO
hopes to help parents become more aware of safe driving tips that they
can pass on to their new teen drivers. And the timing is right as the
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) indicates there’s now a
swing back to more teens getting their drivers licenses after a recent
slowdown in driver’s license applications.

Parents, for example, do you know:

What time of day do most teen crashes occur?

According to IIHS, most teen crashes with fatalities occur between 6
p.m. and midnight. Additionally, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays prove to
be the most dangerous days. Graduated
Drivers Licensing (GDL) Laws in each state have curfew requirements
which require teens to gain more experience before they do much
nighttime driving.

Is it risky for my teen to drive with additional passengers?

Oh yes, indeed. The risk of crashing can increase significantly for an
inexperienced driver with the addition of one teen passenger according
to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Teen
passengers can often create distractions and encourage risky behavior.
GEICO strongly encourages parents to get familiar with their individual
state’s GDL Laws when it comes to passenger requirements.

Are rural or urban roads more dangerous for teen drivers?

More deadly accidents happen on rural roads. Although there’s less
traffic, rural roads can have other hazards like difficult-to-navigate
curves and poor lighting that cause issues for newer drivers.

What other factors lead to severe teen crashes?

Excessive speed, driver error, failure to wear a seatbelt and alcohol
have all contributed to a large number of serious accidents involving
teens.

What time of the year do most fatal teen crashes occur?

Even though summer is months away, it’s important for parents to know
that teens are more likely to be involved in accidents and fatal crashes
in June, July and August. That’s mainly because school is out, which
presents more opportunities to drive longer distances.

Parents will want to encourage safe driving from their teens by setting
a good example with their own habits behind the wheel. Simple practices
like buckling up, ignoring your mobile phone and using defensive driving
techniques go a long way, as well as making a commitment to follow your
state’s GDL
requirements.

Contacts

GEICO Communications
301-986-3271
gcorpcomm@geico.com
To
view GEICO’s Blog: http://blog.geico.com/