Driving down the roads lined in color-changing trees blowing in fall’s crisp, cool air can be one of the most serene times, but for teenagers, it’s also one of the most dangerous.
October remains one of the most dangerous months every year for teen driver car accidents , according to data analyzed by State Farm. For the past seven years, reports of injuries or collisions have spiked in October by about 15 %, compared to other months.
While the report didn’t disclose exact reasons for the increase in teen accidents, factors such as returning to school, attending homecoming events and beginning to manage busy schedules that require driving were cited as reasons safe driving practices could lag behind in teen’s minds.
As a South Carolina car accident attorney I would also like to remind teens to drive safely, not just in October, but year-round. Limiting distractions in the car like multiple passengers, using cell phones to talk to text and excessively loud music can help bring attention back to the road.
State Farm and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have worked with Congress to designate the third week of October as National Teen Driver Safety Week. As a South Carolina personal injury lawyer I support the week and hope teens and parents will take the time to focus on teen driver safety and increase conversations about solutions for the high rate of car crashes involving teens.