TEEN DRIVING | Statistics | TEEN CAR CRASHES | Personal Injuries

NATIONAL – Recent studies have shown that teens that own their own cars are more likely to get into accidents than teens who share the family car. 

Twenty-five percent of teens who have their own cars have been involved in crashes compared to eleven percent who shared the car. Teens who had parents, who set clear rules, were half as likely to have accidents as teens with uninvolved parents.

Accountability is the key ingredient.

www.trippfirm.com      TRIPP LAW FIRM Personal Injury Law

MANATEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE – Teen Driver Challenge Class – STUDENTS 15 – 19 year old eligible

MANATEE COUNTY - The Manatee County Sheriff's Office is going to be holding the Teen Driver Challenge Class on Thursday, Sept 24th, 2009 and Saturday, Sept 26th, 2009. The class is formatted for teens 15-19 years of age that possess a valid Florida Operator's Driver's License or Learner's Permit. The students will be required to use their own vehicle during the training.

Class size is limited to twelve. There is no cost to participate in the class. If you would like your teen to participate in this class or for more information, please contact Captain William Dixon or Amy Carr @ 747-3011 ext. 2041 or 2040.

They are now accepting applications for participation in their next class.

For more information - CLICK ON THE LINK -

www.manateesheriff.com/wps/portal/PublicInterest/TeenDriverChallenge

For additional information - CLICK ON THE LINK -
Florida Sheriff's Association Teen Driver Program site.

www.trippfirm.com

TEEN RECKLESS DRIVING • SPEAK UP • SEMINOLE HIGH • LARGO HIGH • OSCEOLA HIGH • PINELLAS PARK HIGH • KESWICK CHRISTIAN • INDIAN ROCKS CHRISTIAN • CARS

FOR THE AMERICAN TEENAGER the automobile is a source of freedom and independence, but at WHAT PRICE?

Reckless driving is the #1 killer of 15-20 year olds. Why speak up? Because Speaking up could save your life. Sixteen year olds are three times more likely to die in a car crash! The leading cause of car crashes for sixteen year olds is INEXPERIENCE.

BEHIND THE WHEEL AT 16 . . . Look, we get it. You don’t want to make it a big deal when your friends are driving recklessly. But, you don’t have to seem like a downer, lecture them or sound like their mom. Speak up in your own way. Just remember, it doesn’t matter what you say, if your friends are driving recklessly, say something.

The Speak Up Or Else campaign is sponsored by the Ad Council and a coalition of state Attorneys General and consumer protection agencies. For almost 65 years, the Ad Council has been improving the lives of Americans by raising awareness about critical social issues and inspiring people to take action. The organization addresses a variety of community, education, health and safety issues and its iconic taglines have become part of the American language, like “Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk,” “Take a Bite out of Crime,” and “A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste.”

The coalition of Attorneys General and consumer protection organizations is a multi-state group comprised of the Offices of the Attorney General and Consumer Protection Agencies of all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr. of the TRIPP LAW FIRM (www.trippfirm.com) along with SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) and AAA (American Automobile Association) urge teen drivers to take part in the Speak Up Or Else campaign and help spread the word about the danger of reckless driving.

Everyday ten (10) teens are killed due to some form of reckless driving and the impact can be much bigger than you think. Take a closer look at how reckless driving impacted these teens’ lives.

CLICK THE LINKS BELOW TO WATCH THE VIDEOS:
www.speakuporelse.com/?page_id=15
www.urthespokesperson.com

TEEN DRIVERS Ι Vehicle Monitoring Ι Prevent Accidents Ι

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) finds that in-vehicle monitoring devices help reduce risky teen driving. The devices record the times when teens drive to fast, brake too sharply, and don't buckle up. The monitors made beeping sounds when teens drove too fast, braked too sharply or neglected to buckle up. At the same time, the devices posted the information on a secure Web site for parents to review. WATCH A BRIEF VIDEO by clicking on the LINK: www.iihs.org/video.aspx/info/teen_monitoring

Ninety-eight percent of the parents said they'd recommend the monitoring device to other parents, while teens believed the device made them better drivers.

To read a reseach paper prepared by IIHS entitled - In-Vehicle Monitoring and the Driving Behavior of Teenagers - CLICK ON THE LINK - www.iihs.org/research/topics/pdf/r1119.pdf

Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr., reminds TEEN DRIVERS to Think Safety First! and encourges parents - while it may be less costly to purchase an old “clunker” for your young driver, your teen’s safety should be your first concern. Parents should consider purchasing a new or used vehicle with good safety features – side impact as well as dashboard and steering wheel air bags, automatic door locks, and anti-lock braking system, traction control devices, and other technological improvements.

Remember, driver education only teaches fundamental skills and knowledge. Parents, guardians and supervising drivers must do their part. PARENTS - Get Involved. Stay Involved. The best person to teach your teen how to become a safe, responsible driver is you. Your wisdom, your guidance, and your continued involvement will not only make a big difference, it could save lives.

Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr., encourages drivers and passengers alike to always wear their seat belt. www.trippfirm.com

TRIPP LAW FIRM, P.A. – A Personal Injury Law Firm that is Dedicated to Helping Injured People throughout the State of Florida.
CALL FOR A FREE CONSULTATION - 1 (888) 392-LAWS (5297) Prompt and Aggressive Representation, with a personal touch.
NO FEE OR COSTS IF NO RECOVERY.

Tampa Ι TEEN HITS POLICE CAR while TEXTING Ι REAR ENDED Ι STOPPED POLICE CAR Ι AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT Ι Passenger INJURED Ι

According to BAYNEWS 9 - A teenager was cited Wednesday after police said she crashed into a patrol car while she was texting and cutting school.

According to reports, just before 11 a.m. Wednesday, Officer Tanya Manning was stopped at a red light at the intersection of Bruce B. Downs and Palms Springs boulevards in Tampa when she was hit from behind by a car driven by 18-year-old Katelyn Blaylock.

Police said Blaylock was texting at the time of the accident. They also said she had two other teenage girls in the car with her, and that all three teenagers were skipping classes at Freedom High School at the time. Blaylock and one other passenger were slightly injured when the airbags of her car deployed. Manning was not hurt.

Blaylock was cited for careless driving. All three teenagers were taken to their high school and delivered to the assistant principal. All of their parents have been notified.

STUDY SHOWS - Texting While Driving Can Be Deadly

CLICK link to read article:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090504094434.htm

"When a driver's eyes are away from the roadway for two seconds or more in a six-second window, their risk of being involved in a crash is two times higher than an alert driver."

Florida Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr., encourages drivers to refrain from texting and driving (even at stop lights). Keep yourself, your family and others safe by keeping your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel.

www.trippfirm.com

TRIPP LAW FIRM, P.A. – A Personal Injury Law Firm that is Dedicated to Helping Injured People throughout the State of Florida.

CALL FOR A FREE CONSULTATION - 1 (888) 392-LAWS (5297) Prompt and Aggressive Representation, with a personal touch.

NO FEE OR COSTS IF NO RECOVERY.

TEEN DRIVERS - Tampa Bay Area – including Bloomingdale, Brandon, Lithia, Valrico, Plant City, Gibsonton and Riverview - Hillsborough County

According to the St. Petersburg Times (06/10/2008) - Some sobering news for the parents of teenage drivers in Florida - The Tampa Bay Area is the deadliest metro area for teen drivers.

The Tampa Bay area, Orlando and Jacksonville are ranked Nos. 1, 2 and 3, respectively, as the deadliest metro areas in America for drivers ages sixteen (16) to nineteen (19), according
to a study released by Allstate Insurance Company.

Not wearing a seat belt was the NUMBER ONE contributing factor in all three Florida cities, said Allstate spokeswoman Megan Brunet, followed by speeding, alcohol use and drug use. The study combined recent federal crash statistics and Allstate claims data to come up with a rate of fatal accidents involving teens. Allstate is the second-largest auto insurer in Florida and in the nation, behind only State Farm.

Auto insurers as a group have been actively pushing online education programs targeted to teens with the lure of getting premium discounts. Among the other national statistics compiled by Allstate:

• Car crashes are the top killer of teenagers in America, resulting in nearly 6,000 deaths and 300,000 injuries each year.
• Despite safer cars, better roads and decades of safe-driving programs, the rate of teen driving fatalities has not changed significantly in more than a decade.
• In 2006, 62 percent of teen passenger deaths occurred in vehicles driven by another teenager.
• Adding just one passenger to a teen driver's car doubles the risk of a crash, and that risk increases proportionally with the number of teenage passengers.

The best thing parents can do to try to keep their kids safe is to lead by example, said Florida Highway Patrol spokesman Capt. Mark Welch. "If you don't wear your seat belt, you can't expect your child to wear his," he said.

Florida Injury Attorney, G. Alan Tripp, Jr., of the TRIPP LAW FIRM in Seminole, Pinellas County, Florida urges all TEEN DRIVERS:

• BUCKLE UP STUDENTS, BUCKLE UP!
• OBEY ALL TRAFFIC LAWS (ESPECIALLY THE SPEED LIMIT)!
• NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE!

www.trippfirm.com

ATTENTION TEEN DRIVERS of Bayside High School, Osceola High School, Seminole High School, Largo High School, Countryside High School, Pinellas County

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, accounting for more than one in three deaths in this age group. In 2005, twelve teens ages 16 to 19 died every day from motor vehicle injuries.

• How big is the problem, and what are the costs? - In the United States during 2005, 4,544 teens ages 16 to 19 died of injuries caused by motor vehicle crashes. In the same year, nearly 400,000 motor vehicle occupants in this age group sustained non-fatal injuries that required treatment in an emergency department. Overall, in 2005, teenagers accounted for 10 percent of the U.S. population and 12 percent of motor vehicle crash deaths.
  
  Young people ages 15-24 represent only 14% of the U.S. population. However, they account for 30% ($19 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among males and 28% ($7 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among females.
  
  Who is most at risk? - The risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among 16- to 19-year-olds than among any other age group. In fact, per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are four times more likely than older drivers to crash.

Among teen drivers, those at especially HIGH RISK for motor vehicle crashes are:

• Males: In 2005, the motor vehicle death rate for male drivers and passengers ages 16 to 19 was more than one and a half times that of their female counterparts.
• Teens driving with teen passengers: The presence of teen passengers increases the crash risk of unsupervised teen drivers. This risk increases with the number of teen passengers.
• Newly licensed teens: Crash risk is particularly high during the first year that teenagers are eligible to drive.

What are the major risk factors?

• Teens are more likely than older drivers to underestimate dangerous situations or not be able to recognize hazardous situations.
• Teens are more likely than older drivers to speed and allow shorter headways (the distance from the front of one vehicle to the front of the next). The presence of male teenage passengers increases the likelihood of this risky driving behavior.
• Among male drivers between 15 and 20 years of age who were involved in fatal crashes in 2005, 38% were speeding at the time of the crash and 24% had been drinking.

Compared with other age groups, teens have the lowest rate of seat belt use. In 2005, 10% of high school students reported they rarely or never wear seat belts when riding with someone else. In a national survey of seat belt use among high school students:

• Male high school students (12.5%) were more likely than female students (7.8%) to rarely or never wear seat belts.
• African-American students (13.4%) and Hispanic students (10.6%) were more likely than white students (9.4%) to rarely or never wear seat belts.
• At all levels of blood alcohol concentration (BAC), the risk of involvement in a motor vehicle crash is greater for teens than for older drivers.
• In 2005, 23% of drivers ages 15 to 20 who died in motor vehicle crashes had a BAC of 0.08 g/dl or higher.
• In a national survey conducted in 2005, nearly three out of ten teens reported that, within the previous month, they had ridden with a driver who had been drinking alcohol. One in ten reported having driven after drinking alcohol within the same one-month period.
• In 2005, three out of four teen drivers killed in motor vehicle crashes after drinking and driving were not wearing a seat belt.
• In 2005, half of teen deaths from motor vehicle crashes occurred between 3 p.m. and midnight and 54% occurred on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

How can motor vehicle injuries be prevented? - There are proven methods to helping teens become safer drivers. Research suggests that the most comprehensive graduated drivers licensing (GDL) programs are associated with reductions of 38% and 40% in fatal and injury crashes, respectively, among 16-year-old drivers. Graduated driver licensing (GDL) systems are designed to delay full licensure while allowing teens to get their initial driving experience under low-risk conditions.

Florida Injury Attorney, G. Alan Tripp, Jr., of the TRIPP LAW FIRM in Seminole, Pinellas County, Florida urges all high school students to:

• BUCKLE UP STUDENTS BUCKLE UP!
• OBEY ALL TRAFFIC LAWS (ESPECIALLY THE SPEED LIMIT)!
• NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE!

www.trippfirm.com