There’s nothing quite like the stress of being in the passenger seat when your teen first learns to drive. But here’s one piece of good news: WalletHub released its report on 2023’s Best & Worst States for Teen Drivers, and New Jersey’s roadways are the 3rd best in the country.
WalletHub compared the 50 states based on 23 key metrics such as the number of teen driver fatalities to the average cost of car repairs to the presence of impaired-driving laws.
New Jersey teen driving ranks in the following areas compared to the rest of the U.S.:
1st: Presence of impaired driving laws
1st: Presence of distracted driving or texting while driving laws
1st: Provision of teen driver’s graduated licensing program laws
2nd: Teen driver fatalities per 100,000 teens
7th: Presence of occupant protection laws
9th: Vehicle miles traveled per capita
15th: Teen DUIs per 100,000 teens
22nd: Premium increase after adding teen driver to parent’s policy
In the end, it’s the responsibility of parents to talk to their kids about driving safety. Remind them to keep their eyes on the road, stay off text, keep the music low and stay fully focused on the road. For teens ages 16-19, the risk of accidents and fatal accidents is elevated, according to the National Safety Council, and an average of eight teens die per day in motor vehicle injuries.
“There is more to driving than just the physical operation of a motor vehicle. New drivers have a lot to learn – from laws, road signs, and driving etiquette, to how to be aware of and respond to unanticipated events and hazards,” says Joanna Lee Williams, Ph.D., Associate Professor at Rutgers University. “Parents can support teens by ensuring they have many driving practice hours under the guidance of an experienced adult driver. … Parents should always model safe driving to their teens, including fastening seat belts and not using cell phones while driving.”
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