The numbers don’t lie: Young drivers are more likely to be involved in deadly accidents than older, more experienced motorists. Data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows that drivers aged 16 to 19 years old are three times more likely to be in fatal wrecks than motorists aged 20 and older.
One primary reason for this unsettling trend is the fact that inexperienced motorists do not know how to adjust their actions to the weather. If your teenager is a newly licensed driver, it is critical that you teach him or her how to avoid accidents in rainy conditions. As the Department of Transportation explains, wet weather can contribute to collisions by impairing visibility, extending braking distance, and reducing the tires’ traction on the road.
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If you or your child suffers an injury due to a driver who was behaving recklessly in wet weather, contact Morris Bart & Associates, LLC. A personal-injury lawyer in Montgomery will gather evidence, assess doctors’ records and the police report, and help you fight for the maximum settlement.
If your case goes to trial, our attorneys have the knowledge, resources and litigation experience to represent your interests in court. Call 800-537-8185 to arrange a free consultation.
5 Lessons to Help Your Teen Avoid Collisions while Driving in the Rain
More than 2,700 teenagers died in motor-vehicle accidents in 2015, according to the IIHS. The vast majority of these wrecks involved driver error.
Even responsible young drivers do not have the experience to anticipate dangerous situations and respond appropriately. As a parent, it is important that you explain how your teen should adjust his or her behavior in specific scenarios such as when driving in wet weather.
Here are five tips that could save your child’s life:
- If you are driving on a highway during or after a rainstorm, extend your following distance to six seconds;
- Remember to turn on your headlights if you need to use your windshield wipers;
- If the rain is too strong for your wipers to keep the windshield clear, then pull over at a safe location and wait for the storm to pass;
- Never slam on your brakes if your tires lose traction; instead, lift your foot off of the accelerator pedal and turn in the direction that you want the vehicle to go until your tires regain traction with the road; and
- Do not use cruise control when driving in the rain. Cruise control increases the risk of an accident if your vehicle hydroplanes because it will continue moving at a constant speed.
Sadly, no matter how diligent your child is behind the wheel, nobody can control the actions of other drivers. If you or your teen was hurt by a drunk, distracted or negligent motorist in Alabama, turn to Morris Bart & Associates, LLC.
Our legal team has been representing the injured for more than 30 years. Call 800-537-8185 to arrange a free consultation with a car accident attorney in Montgomery.
Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
