We are entering the most wonderful yet dangerous time of the year; not only for adults but for our teens. If you have a new driver in your family please take extra precautions and be vigilant about where and with whom your teen is driving/riding.

When teens are not in school, they can be more likely to drive or ride with other teens, stay up and out later or drive for fun instead of driving for a particular reason such as driving to and from school or work. They are also more likely to be drowsy due to an interruption in normal sleep patterns.

The Thanksgiving holiday is always 4.25 days; and New Year’s and Christmas are 3.25 days if the holiday falls on Friday through Monday, 4.25 days if on Tuesday or Thursday, and 1.25 days if on Wednesday. These are very dangerous times for travel.

The weather is often less than desirable; traffic is now starting to increase for the holiday season, shopping, parties, school, sporting events,  church activities, and  time off work/school.

Teen drivers are at greater risk through the Christmas and the New Year’s holiday period. In 2012,505 people died in crashes involving drivers 15 to 19 yrs old and 85% or 430 of these deaths occurred in the nine day period between December 24 and January 1.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2-3 times more people die in alcohol-related auto crashes from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day than at other times of the year.

SET BOUNDERIES; DON’T LET YOUR TEEN DRIVE
WHENEVER AND WHEREVER THEY WANT!

Teens with unlimited use of a vehicle are more likely to crash than those who have to “ask for permission” Even if your teen driver has had a license for awhile, the holiday season is a good time for you to spend extra hours behind the wheel with them.