Teen Drivers: Accidents, Insurance, Roadside Assistance, and Safety Precautions

Content approved by Jerry Parker

Learning how to drive is something that most teenagers anticipate eagerly because of the freedom and independence that it means. Although driving is a rite of passage, it’s also a privilege and responsibility that no one should take lightly. Operating motor vehicles involves skill and careful attention to detail, so it’s important to work hard to learn how to drive safely. It’s also important to know what to do in the event of an accident or a breakdown.

Safety Statistics

Teenage drivers have the highest rates of both accidents and traffic violations. Data from 2016 showed that 2,820 teenagers between the ages of 13 and 19 died in accidents in motor vehicles, and two-thirds of those teenagers were male. May and June were the deadliest months for teenage crash deaths in 2016, and 53 percent of teenage crash fatalities happened on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays. Of the fatalities involving teenagers, 18 percent occurred between the hours of 9 p.m. and midnight.

Safe Driving Practices

One of the main causes of serious car accidents involving teenage drivers falls under the category of critical errors. These mistakes include not scanning the road to see and respond to hazards, driving too fast for the road conditions, and being distracted by something or someone inside or outside of the vehicle. Learning to be a safe drivers starts with getting plenty of practice behind the wheel; ideally, this practice should amount to 50 hours or more of driving time, about two hours each week for a six-month period, before getting your license. New drivers should drive mid-size or full-size cars with airbags for the most crash protection: Driving a sports car can tempt you to drive too fast, and SUVs have a higher center of gravity and can be less stable. Some states have a graduated licensing law that restricts solo driving for newly licensed drivers to just daylight hours, but even if your state doesn’t have this law in place, it’s not a bad rule for a teenage driver.

Insurance Information

Expect adding a teenage driver to an auto insurance policy to cause the rates to rise. Most policies cover a teenage driver with a learner’s permit without additional fees, but once a teenager has a full license, additional coverage and fees will generally be required. Call your insurance agent to get coverage in place. You may be able to reduce the cost by restricting the teen driver to driving only one car, preferably the cheapest vehicle on the policy. Don’t forget to ask for a discount for teens who get good grades and/or have taken a defensive driving class.

How to Handle a Car Accident

In the event of a car accident, the first thing to do is move the car to a safe location off the road, if possible. Check for injuries, and call 911 to get help if necessary. Call the police for any accident, even a minor one: You’ll need a police report if you need to file an insurance claim. When more than one driver is involved, exchange contact and insurance information. You might also want to take your own photos of the accident scene and the vehicles involved, which you might need as evidence later on. Never admit fault at an accident scene, and don’t sign any documents unless the police instruct you to do so. Most insurance companies allow you to initiate a claim immediately, either online or with the company’s app. You can also personally call your insurance agent to initiate a claim.

Roadside Assistance

Roadside assistance coverage provides you with help if your car breaks down. Roadside assistance is a type of insurance that includes services such as towing, changing a flat tire, bringing you gas if you run out, unlocking your car if you’re locked out, and jump-starting your battery if it’s dead. Roadside assistance is particularly useful if you have an older vehicle that may be more likely to break down. Anyone who drives long distances can also benefit from a roadside assistance policy.

• Teen Driver Statistics
• Behind the Wheel: How to Help Your Teen Become a Safe Driver
• How Much Does Your Insurance Go Up When You Add a Teenage Driver?
• What Should You Do After a Car Accident?
• Teen Driving Statistics
• How to Handle an Accident
• Roadside Assistance: What Is it, and Do I Need It?
• What to Do When Your Car Breaks Down
• Safe Driving for Teens
• Teen Drivers: Get the Facts
• Safe Driving for Distracted Teens
• Promoting Safe Driving
• Teen Drivers
• Teenage Driver Crash Statistics
• Parent Guide to Teen Driving
• Teen Driving Safety
• Pointers for Parents: Road Map to Teen Driver Safety
• Teen Driving
• Teen Distracted Driving Data (PDF)
• Teaching Your Teen to Drive
• What Is Roadside Assistance?
• Roadside Assistance: What it Is And Why You Need It
• Distracted Driving Research
• Five Tips for Teaching Teens to Drive (Without Losing Your Sanity)
• Teaching Your Teen to Drive
• Adding a Teen to Your Auto Insurance: How to Save Money on Premiums
• What to Do After a Car Accident: Six Steps to Take
• Seven Steps to Take After a Car Accident
• Helpful Tips if You’re in a Fender Bender
• What Is Roadside Assistance?

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