Tag Archive: Teen drivers
Teen Dies After Car Surfing
October 9, 2014
Another teen has died as the result of “car surfing.” The teen fell off the car and received multiple injuries including injuries to his head. He was taken to the hospital by his parents where he died the next day.
If you aren’t familiar with car surfing, it involves standing on top of a car and trying to “surf” while the car is in motion. It seems like this idiotic practice just won’t go away. It’s a popular subject on Youtube.
The problem with car surfing is that there’s no traction to maintain your footing and it’s almost impossible to maintain your balance. The law of physics that says “a body in motion tends to remain in motion” comes into play if the car turns even slightly or comes to a stop.
Given the relatively short distance from the roof of the car to the ground and the, hopefully, low speed, it may not seem like it would be too dangerous if you were to fall off. However, the low speed and distance are deceptive. Even at just 10 mph, a 140 lb teen boy whose head hits the pavement will strike the pavement with a force of more than 460 lbs. That’s more than enough force to cause serious brain trauma.
The Center for Disease Control conducted a study on car surfing in 2008 and found, among other things, that:
- The researchers found 99 reported incidents of car surfing, 58 percent of which were fatal.
- The average age of those injured or killed was 17.6, with males accounting for 70 percent of the victims.
- Three out of four car surfing deaths were caused by head trauma.
You can read the CDC press release here: CDC Media Analysis Examines Car Surfing
There’s no way to car surf safely and parents need to discuss the dangers of this practice with their teens. Read more: Wis. teen dies in “car surfing” accident, police say
Teens Don’t Know How to Check The Tires
August 27, 2014
Almost half of teen drivers in the US don’t know how to check their tires for wear or proper pressure. Results from a study conducted by Michelin North America showed that teens aren’t getting basic vehicle maintenance training in state driver training courses or from their parents. Basic maintenance checks on tires, windshield wipers, fluid levels, and lights are an important part of driving safety yet the study shows that:
- 27% of teens never check the condition of their tires.
- 44% of teens don’t know how to check the tire tread for wear.
- 29% don’t know how to check the oil.
- 57% don’t know how to change the windshield wipers. Continue Reading
Teens Pick Up Parents Bad Driving Habits
July 30, 2014
Almost one-third of parents responding to a survey feel that they have passed their own bad driving habits on to their teens. The study, conducted in the Canadian province of British Columbia, showed that 29 percent of parents feel their teen is practicing the same bad driving behaviors that they themselves are guilty of.
Modeling Your Behavior
Any parent who has let a bad word escape their lips only to hear their toddler immediately repeat it can easily understand that kids tend to copy their parents behaviors. However, many parents fail to realize that their child has been observing their driving behaviors since they were in a child seat and it shouldn’t be surprising that their teen would also copy their bad driving behaviors. When training a teen to drive, it isn’t enough to say “Do as I say – not as I do!” If you want your teen to be a safe driver, you have to model the same type of safe driving behavior yourself.
Changing Bad Habits
Teens have no tolerance for hypocritical behavior in adults. If you know some of your driving behaviors (such as speeding or trying to beat a yellow light) aren’t safe, you need to get rid of those bad habits and then, let your child know you are making a conscious effort to change your driving behavior and why. A child will take that lesson to heart more easily if you are honest in your evaluation of your driving habits and the reasons for changing them.
If you need more help, consider voluntarily attending a driving school. There, you can hear safe driving tips and gain a better understanding of how your driving habits could lead to a crash. You can also pick up information on new traffic laws that you may not be aware of.
Preparing Teens And Their Parents To Drive
July 23, 2014
The AAA has a website designed to help parents and their teens through the teen licensing process. Visitors to the site can select their state to view state GDL laws and the licensing process for that state along with a lot of other good information. For more information, visit: AAA Keys2Drive
Insurance Institute Lists Safe Used Cars For Teens
July 17, 2014
As we mentioned a few days ago, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has found that teens involved in fatal crashes were more likely to be driving a smaller, older, and less safe vehicle than adults of their parent’s age. Now the IIHS has come out with their recommendations for safe used vehicles for teens that are more likely to fit in a family’s budget. There are some surprises on the list. For more information, read: IIHS issues recommendations on used vehicles for teens