Remember: Teen Drivers Share the Road with You

Aug. 23, 2012 - PRLog -- Teen and Parent Guide to Safe Teen Driving

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, NJ (August 23, 2012) – In this country, cars kill more teenagers than cancer, gang violence, suicide, or drugs and alcohol. Hard to believe? The statistics prove it:

•   Teens are involved in car crashes four times as often as all other age groups combined
•   A teen’s chance of dying in a car crash triples from ages 13 to 15, to ages 16 to 19
•   Every day, 26 people between the ages of 16 and 24 die in traffic crashes

“Teenagers may be going to work, school or to a party,” said Marc Ludwig, an Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company exclusive agent of Egg Harbor Township. “And it’s up to parents to teach their teens to drive both safe and smart.”

The fact is that car crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers. Statistically, teens make up less than 7 percent of the nation's licensed drivers, but they're involved in 15 percent of all fatal crashes. This doesn’t mean all teen-drivers are reckless or irresponsible on the road. However, it does mean teens are at increased risk of being involved in, injured, or killed in car crashes. Increased education is vital in saving teenage lives during their years of inexperience.

Ludwig does not want to see teens become victims of their early driving years. Instead, he tries to help teach them how to decrease their chances of harm while increasing their opportunity for safe, accident-free driving by taking charge.

Ludwig and Allstate New Jersey recognize the potential danger that face teens every time they get behind the wheel and offer the following tips for teens and parents:

To Teens: Drive and Arrive Safely
•   Drive sober and ride with sober people
•   Always wear your safety belt and insist that all passengers do the same
•   Be familiar with the vehicle you’re driving
•   Be a defensive driver and stay alert. Keep four seconds of following time between your car and the vehicle in front of you
•   Focus on your driving. Avoid distractions such as loud music and cellular phones
•   Limit the number of passengers riding in your car at any given time
•   Check your rear view mirror every time your foot goes on the brake
•   Follow the traffic safety rules and drive at safe, legal speeds

To Parents: Establish Guidelines
•   Supervise your teen’s driving time. Give your teen practice time driving under your supervision
•   Put a limit on the number of passengers allowed in the car
•   Limit your teen’s driving during times of increased risk: Friday and Saturday nights and early Saturday and Sunday mornings
•   Establish a curfew
•   Insist on the usage of safety belts
•   Set geographic driving area limits
•   Prohibit your teen from driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
•   Make car choices with safety in mind
•   Be a good role model

For additional information on Teen Driver Safety or a full comprehensive Teen Driver program, including a driving agreement and oaths for teens and parents, visit the Ludwig Allstate New Jersey Agency located at 3003 English Creek Avenue in Egg Harbor Township, or call 609-645-6999.

About Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company
Known through the “You’re In Good Hands With Allstate®” slogan, Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company and its affiliates help individuals in more than a half million New Jersey households protect what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow through approximately 270 agents and financial representatives. Customers can access Allstate New Jersey products and services through Allstate agencies, or at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®. The Allstate Financial Group provides life insurance, supplemental accident and health insurance, annuity, banking and retirement products designed for individual, institutional and worksite customers that are distributed through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, financial institutions and broker-dealers.