Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog
In the ongoing battle to reduce your child’s risk of being involved in a Massachusetts car accident, our Boston injury lawyers encourage you to remain proactive in 2011.
Safe Kids USA is launching a program in conjunction with General Motors Foundation called Countdown2Drive. The program will target 13 to 14-year-old teenagers, before they are eligible to drive.
“Our goal is to educate young teens, as they begin to transition from passengers to drivers,” said John Formisano, president and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide. “Our research shows teen pre-drivers are eager to learn, and they are focused on the freedom a driver’s license and access to a car can provide.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that car accidents are the leading cause of death for all teenagers, both those ages 15 to 20 who are old enough to drive, and younger teens who are anxiously awaiting their driving privileges. Nearly 6,000 teenage drivers were involved in fatal crashes in 2008. Massachusetts car accidents involving young drivers claimed 68 lives that year.
“By preparing them to be good passengers, Countdown2Drive can help decrease the number of crashes and injuries that occur during their first and most dangerous year of driving,” Formisano said. “Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of teens, with driver inexperience and distractions among the main causes of teen crashes.”
A 13 or 14-year-old faces double the risk of being involved in a fatal accident as that of when they were younger. That risk continues to rise as a teen gets older.
“Texting and talking on cell phones may feel like second nature to a tech-savvy generation, but the truth is, no one can talk or text while driving safely,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Driving distracted is a dangerous and deadly practice, which is why we need to reach teens early on – before they get a permit and a license to drive.”
Here you will find more information on theCountdown2Drive program.
If you have been injured in a Boston bicycle accident or pedestrian accident, contact Massachusetts Injury Attorney Jeffrey S. Glassman for a free and confidential appointment to discuss your rights. Call 877-617-5333.