I remember being frustrated in high-school because my father would not let me ride in a car with friends. He had a rule that the driver had to be at least 18 years old, or I wasn’t riding. Now as a parent I understand the concern my father had and I plan on enforcing the same attitude towards safety with my children.
I think of my dad’s rules every time I read that a teen has been injured in a preventable car accident. Tragically this weekend in Belhaven, North Carolina (NC) a 16-year-old lost control of a truck as he sped around a curve and a 13-year-old passenger died at the scene, two others remain hospitalized.
This is a terrible loss for the family. It just breaks my heart that someone so young has died in such a preventable accident. My thoughts go out to the family at this difficult time. That’s a loss I wish no parent had to endure
Apparently locals say this isn’t the first time someone has died on Pamlico Beach Road, which is known for sharp turns and curves. But the highway patrol says it’s an accident that could have been avoided. Like many others involving teens, reports the NC Highway Patrol. None of the passengers were wearing a seat belt and Troopers say they were traveling 70 mph on a 45 mph road. All drivers need to remember, seat belts aren’t optional. And the posted speed limit is just that.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. National data shows that drivers under the age of 19 are involved in a motor vehicle crash every 23 seconds.
So what can you do to ensure the safety of your teen? As a passenger they don’t have much control over the driver. One thing you can do is limit the amount of passengers your teen is allowed to have in the car. Believe it or not, the risk of a crash increases with each additional passenger.
CA.