Study Shows Parents May Be Unaware of Teen Driving Behavior

September 17, 2013
The St. Louis Car Accident Lawyers with Cofman Townsley Injury Lawyers explain that motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death among teenagers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that in 2010, roughly seven teens between the ages of 16- and 19-years-old died each day as the result of a car accident.

While experts say that parents being active in their child’s motor vehicle training is one of the best ways to help prevent teen driving accidents, a new study is showing that many parents may be naïve to the behaviors their children engage in while at the wheel of a car. According to CBS-St. Louis News, a new study shows that 70 percent of parents with teen drivers responded to a survey by saying their child adheres to a law limiting the number of passengers allowed to ride in a vehicle operated by a teen. However, only 40 percent of teens responded that they obey this particular regulation.

These findings leave many parents wondering what actions they can take to help keep their teens safe behind the wheel of a car. Cofman Townsley’s team of St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyers explain that creating a driving contract with a teenager is a great way to create accountability for a teen’s actions behind the wheel. The contract should include limits on speeds and passenger numbers, as well as a promise not to drive while distracted.