Is Your St. Pete Teen Ready To Hit The Road?
Michael Babboni
Car Accidents
When St. Pete teens hit the magic age of 16 it’s an exciting and nerve-wracking time for young people and their parents. Parents want their teens to learn the responsibility that comes with growing up, but are they sure their soon to be young adults are ready to hit the road?Teen Driver Accident Statistics
According to the CDC, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States. In 2020, 2,800 teenagers lost their lives in fatal motor vehicle accidents, which amounts to an average of 8 fatalities each day. Per mile driven, teen drivers aged 16-19 have a fatal crash rate about 3 times higher than motorists aged 20 or above.
What do these statistics mean? Around 61% of American teens still obtain drivers license by the time they turn 18-years-old, but it’s important for parents to determine if their teen is truly ready. They need to know how serious the responsibilities of the road really are, and how maturity plays a big role in their ability to drive safely in these early years.
Florida Drivers License Requirements
In the state of Florida, teens must be at least 15-years-old to obtain a Florida Learner’s License. With a learner’s license, teen drivers must be accompanied by a licensed driver aged 21 or above, the license must be held for 12 months or until the teen reaches age 18 (whichever comes first,) and they’re required to complete 50 hours of supervised driving, 10 of which must be completed at night. In the first 3 months after issuance driving must be limited to daylight, and after 3 months teen drivers with a learner’s license have a 10pm curfew.
Once all Florida Learner’s License requirements have been completed, teen drivers may take the next step to complete the driver’s skills test to obtain their Florida Driver’s License.
Determining If Your St. Petersburg Teen Is Ready To Drive
St. Petersburg parents can look for signs that their teens are prepared, mature enough, and ready to obtain their Florida driver’s license safely:
• Your teen respects the rules – There are a lot of rules to keep track of and follow when it comes to safely taking to the road. If your teen observes and respects the rules at school and in the home, it’s more likely they’ll respect Florida roadway laws as well.
• Your teen is generally responsible – If your teen doesn’t need to be asked to do their chores, they take their school projects and deadlines seriously, and they meet all of their responsibilities in everyday life, the odds are good that they’ll do the same while on the road. It takes a great deal of responsibility to become a safe Florida driver, and teens who show they can handle daily responsibilities may be ready to take that next step.
• Your teen doesn’t give into peer pressure – Peer pressure is a big contributing factor to reckless driving for teen drivers. If your teen can ignore peer pressures and use their better judgement, they’re likely to be able to safely navigate driving in St. Petersburg.
It’s normal for parents of teens to be nervous when their soon to be young adults first obtain their driver’s license. However, by looking for the signs, parents can rest assured that their teens are able to be trusted when they take to Florida roadways. If you or your teen has been involved in an accident, you have rights and your representation matters. To learn more about getting the compensation you deserve, contact us today.