Teenagers driving with children in automobiles are three times as likely to have a serious personal injury as those who are driven by adults. The risk is highest for passengers ages 13 to 15.

The reasons for an increase in personal injury rates for children driven by teens are:

• Teenage drivers are more likely to be involved in severe auto accidents due to inexperience.
• Teens are less likely to have children under age 9 properly restrained. In fact, children riding with a teen driver were 3 times as likely not to have any restrain at all.
• Younger children are more likely to ride in the front seat with a teen driver, which creates an opportunity for more injuries to the child.

Parents should constantly reinforce the importance of safe driving habits among their teens to make sure that the teen driver and all passengers are appropriately restrained on every trip. Younger children should be taught that the safest place for them to ride in a car is the rear seat.

Actions speak louder than words, so make sure your teens and children always see you following safety rules when driving.

If you or a loved one have been injured or killed in a Pennsylvania auto accident caused by an underage driver who was drinking, please fill out the form on your left for a free case review by a Pennsylvania auto accident lawyer.

Reference:

"Teens driving teens cause serious injury," News and Notes from State Farm, State Farm Insurance, April 2007.