October 20-26 is National Teen Driver Safety Week, a great time to remind your teen to drive safe and how to do just that. Unfortunately, traffic crashes are the leading cause of deaths in teens across the U.S. For both men and women, drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 have the highest average annual crash and traffic violation rates when compared to all other driving groups. The statistics that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have published are startling; however sharing them with your teen driver can be effective. Education is key. Too many of our young people are injured or killed in preventable automobile accidents.

Our auto repair shop cares about your vehicle and you. We want to maintain your vehicle, not just fix it when it is too late. In 2010, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are three times more likely than drivers aged 20 and older to be in a fatal crash, according to the CDC. This is due to inexperience and distractions when driving that may have been prevented. That same year, seven teens ages 16 to 19 died every day from motor vehicle injuries. From our end, we want to keep your vehicle safe by reminding you of the importance of preventative maintenance on a regular basis. This is one way to help keep teens a little safer on the road. The rest seems to be up to them.

Experience is a major part of the reason, experts agree. Environmental and seasonal circumstances such as wind, sand, rain and so on can throw new drivers off if they are unable to know how to handle the situation. Their ability to detect or deal with hazards in the driving environment depends on their experience, practice and perceptual skills in identifying potential threats. It takes time for young drivers to acquire this skill – we all know this. But driving behaviors also play a role in their safety; texting, talking on the phone, listening to loud music, and speeding are too often causes of teen crashes.

We want to do our part as your trusted auto repair shop in Tempe. You can instill the values while we install the maintenance to keep their vehicle running better and longer on the road. A teen’s vehicle must be safe and reliable. We would also like to provide your teen with some teen driver education in regards to preventative maintenance and auto services on our teen driving page complete with informational videos. Contact our Tempe auto repair shop today and learn how you can help keep your teen driving safer.